A gunman made off with more than a thousand pounds after a robbery at a post office counter near Burgess Hill.

The man, who wore a beige stocking over his face, threatened staff with what looked like a gun in a shop full of customers in Leylands Road, near Wivelsfield railway station, on Tuesday night.

He pushed worker one to the ground and grabbed cash before running away under the railway bridge into fields, heading towards Blackthorns Close and Maple Close.

No shots were fired and nobody was injured. Staff were described as “shaken but unhurt” and no customers were directly threatened.

Sussex Police said they searched the area but did not find the man. No car was seen.

They described the amount stolen as a “four-figure sum”.

The suspect was in his 30s, between 5ft 7in and 5ft 9in and stockily built.

As well as the stocking, he was wearing a dark beanie hat, a blue hip-length jacket, blue jeans and light trainers.

He spoke with a Sussex accent.

Detective Inspector Russ Sheppard said: "This is actually best known as the Worlds End area of Burgess Hill and was busy with traffic and pedestrians at the time of the incident.

“We are certain that people will have seen this man.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999, quoting serial 1160 of December 14, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.