A 23-year-old man has been charged with carrying out two armed robberies in West Sussex and a number of other offences.

Matthew Johnson, of Hillside Avenue, Worthing, has been charged with a robbery at Betfred in Findon Road, Worthing, on 5 March and at Co-op in Royal George Parade, Shoreham, on 14 March.

He has also been charged with having a firearm during each of those robberies, making off without payment from The Katarina in Village Square, Brighton Marina Village, on 5 March, making off without payment from Miller & Carter in Manor Road, Lancing, on 8 March and theft from Co-op in High Street, Shoreham, on 12 March.

Johnson has been remanded in custody to appear at Crawley Magistrates' Court on 20 March.

The offences are being linked to robberies at Uncle Sams takeaway in Crabtree Lane, Lancing, on 3 January, at Uncle Sams takeaway in Upper Shoreham Road, Shoreham, on 22 February, and at Ladbrokes in Rowlands Road, Worthing, on 9 March.

A 33-year-old man from Burgess Hill, a 23-year-old woman from Shoreham and a 35-year-old man from Worthing who have been arrested over the incidents have been released on bail until dates in May.

Officers are still keen to speak to anyone who has any information about any of the offences.

Detective Inspector Rob Walker said: "We are continuing to make inquiries to try to identify all of those involved in this series of robberies.

"We take these incidents very seriously and have a team dedicated to identifying and finding those responsible.

"We will look into every line of inquiry we find and I would urge anyone who has any information at all to contact us urgently."

Anyone with information about any of the robberies should email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting Op Radar, call 101 or contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111