Detectives are hunting hardened criminals who broke into a chemist to steal a consignment of Viagra.

The gang smashed through the door at the Co-op pharmacy in Valley Road, Portslade, got into the store of drugs and went straight for 12 boxes of the anti-impotence tablets worth around £500.

They could have helped themselves to a variety of other prescription-only medication but were content with the Viagra and some hair dye.

The burglary - the second at Co-op stores within an hour - took place at 10am on Sunday.

The store has warned that the pills could potentially be deadly if consumed in the wrong levels.

The 25-year-old woman pharmacist at the branch said: "I must admit we had a laugh when we discovered what had been taken, especially as it happened just before Valentine's Day.

"And the policeman who came to investigate smiled when we told him what had gone. But on a serious note I would warn the thief or anyone offered these pills on the black market to be careful.

"Viagra could cause problems for people with heart or blood pressure problems and they could cause side effects to others."

Viagra, which has been on the market for eight years, is said to help men with erectile dysfunction but has also been shown to have benefits for women who take it before sex.

Last year the pill's manufacturer, Pfizer, sold about $1.6 billion (£987 million) worth of the drug.

The pharmacist joined police in appealing for witnesses to the break-in to come forward.

Detectives think there could be a link between the raid on her store and a similar break-in at the Co-op in Nevill Road, Hove, just before 10pm the same day.

Thieves smashed a window and grabbed five wide screen televisions. A Co-operative Group spokeswoman said: "We are working with police and have supplied them with CCTV footage.

"As with any incident such as this, the Co-op is reviewing security measures at the store and we would appeal for anyone with information to come forward."

Witnesses or anyone with information about either burglary should call Brighton and Hove police on 0845 6070999.