A man wearing a Santa hat and wielding a kitchen knife robbed a supermarket last night.

The robber went into the Co-operative food shop in Lustrells Vale at 9.05pm and threatened a woman staff member, forcing her into the store's office.

He then grabbed another staff member there and made him open the safe.

The suspect stole more than £2,000 before running out of the store into School Lane and on to Chiltington Way.

He was pursued by another staff member who heard him get into a car believed to be a silver Ford Focus hatchback, which made off down Tremola Avenue towards the seafront.

Detective Inspector Andy Wolstenholme said: "This was a violent robbery which left the staff shaken and shocked."

It is understood one staff member was left with bruises after the raid.

The robber was white, between 5ft 9in and 5ft 11in, of stocky build and wearing black jogging bottoms, a black North Face hooded top, a Santa hat with printed Santa feet on the top, a black scarf covering his face apart from his eyes and black gloves. He spoke with an accent, which was possibly either Liverpudlian or northern.

DI Wolstenholme added: "We want to hear from anyone who saw the offender in the store, or running away afterwards or who has details of the car used to escape.

"We are considering if this offence is linked to another similar knifepoint robbery at a Co-op store in Old London Road, Brighton, on Friday [December 16]."

A spokesman for the Co-op said: "I can confirm that a robbery took place at our Saltdean store on Tuesday evening (December 20).

"The police are investigating, and, as with any incident such as this, we would appeal for anyone with any information to come forward."

Anyone with information should contact police by emailing 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or ring 101 quoting serial 1403 of 20/12.