A man has admitted stealing cigarettes from two Co-op stores which were burgled over the weekend.

Michael Weightman, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary at Chichester Magistrates' Court following the break-ins in Rustington and Felpham during the early hours of Saturday morning.

Police were called to the Co-op in Broadmark Place, Boradmark Lane, Rustington, at 3.40am on Saturday to reports the shop had been broken into and cigarettes taken.

At 4am police were called after a second Co-op store was broken into, in Felpham Way, Felpham, near Bognor.

When officers arrived at the scene two people were quickly arrested and a third man fled. He was later arrested at in Canada Grove, Bognor.

Weightman, of Richmond Road, Croydon, will appear at Chichester Crown Court on June 20.

A 29-year-old man, from Croydon, was arrested on suspicion of two counts of burglary, and a 27-year-old man, from Croydon, was arrested on suspicion of two counts of burglary and assaulting or obstructing a police officer. Both men have been bailed until June 29 pending further inquiries.

Detective Constable Graham Leaney, from West Sussex Priority Crime Unit, said: “We are keen to speak to anyone with information about a series of break-ins to Co-op stores across the area, including ones at Angmering, Roffey and Southwick.”

Anyone with information should call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999, quoting Operation Forge.