ARMED police were called out after three knife-wielding men raided a delivery van.

The force received a report of the robbers stealing packages from the vehicle in West Way, Hove, on Friday morning.

They made off in an old burgundy Transit van.

Police later received a call saying the suspects may be at the Hove recycling centre in Old Shoreham Road, and armed officers responded.

But it proved to be an incorrect report.

A force spokesman said: “Anyone who witnessed the incident or who may have seen the van in the area around the time is asked to report online at sussex.police.uk/appealresponse or call 101 quoting serial 409 of 17/08.”

You can also report information anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111, or at crimestoppers-uk.org.