Robbers have been warned they face long prison sentences after a string of prosecutions.

Officers are hoping their successful operations will serve as a stern message to other criminals.

This year, officers in Highdown division, which stretches from Littlehampton to Shoreham, tracked down eight men who had committed a number of armed robberies in the area. They were sentenced to a total of 60 years.

In August, Paul Owens-Russell, 25, a former milkman, of Stroud Green Drive, Bognor, and Andrew Power, 24, a tree surgeon, of Frandor Road, Bognor, both got nine years for carrying out seven off-licence robberies while in possession of a stun gun.

The gun was fired on two occasions. One off-licence worker was only saved from serious injury because the electrical charge hit the calculator in his breast pocket.

In May, 24-year-old Andrew Carruthers was sent to jail for nine years after he was convicted of committing eight robberies in Worthing.

In each of the raids, staff at petrol stations, convenience shops and betting shops were threatened with a Second World War double-barrelled flare gun.

Despite the number of robberies, Carruthers, of Chatham Road, Worthing, only managed to steal £935 in total. The gun he used during them was worth considerably more.

Michael Miller, 34, from Littlehampton, was sent to prison in July for seven years after carrying out three knifepoint robberies in Rustington and East Preston.

He had targeted convenience stores and stolen cash, cigarettes and drink.

Then, in September, four men from London were sentenced for their part in a post office robbery in Worthing.

They abandoned their getaway vehicle in Findon but were all arrested after a large police search lasting almost four hours.

Both Michael Williams, 22, and Frank Isiodu, 23, received seven years and Christian King, 22, and Jonny Owiny, 26, received six years each.

Detective Inspector Jeff Riley, of Highdown CID, said: "These serious offences had a significant impact on the individuals concerned and on the wider community of West Sussex. I am extremely pleased with the outcome.

"It was as a result of relentless investigative work combined with the support and assistance of members of the local community.

"If you commit crimes of this nature in Sussex, you will be caught and you will go to prison."