A pregnant shop worker was taken to hospital after being threatened with a knife during a raid on a food store.

A man brandishing a blade burst into the Jimyang Trading Company in George Street, Brighton. He demanded cash from the frightened assistant and fled with the contents of the till.

The woman was so upset by her ordeal that she was taken to the nearby Royal Sussex County Hospital.

She was treated for shock before being allowed to go home.

Detectives yesterday launched an appeal for help in tracing the robber, who targeted the shop at about 5.30pm on Friday.

They hope releasing details of the raid will prompt people to come forward.

The offender was white, aged between 45 and 50 and had pale, wrinkled skin. He was about 5ft 9in, slim to medium build, and looked "unwell".

He was wearing a dark hooded top with red writing, blue tracksuit trousers with elasticated bottoms and white trainers. He was carrying a dark walking stick and a white bag of shopping.

PC Chris Hike, from Brighton CID, said: "The shop assistant, who is heavily pregnant, was extremely distressed and had to go to hospital due to the shock of the threats made against her.

"She went to hospital because she was scared the baby could have been hurt by all the stress she had suffered.

"We are determined to get to the bottom of it. This was a very nasty incident.

"We've undertaken a lot of inquiries in the area and now we want people to come forward and help us to catch the man responsible.

"I would urge any members of the public who may have seen this man in the Kemp Town area on Friday or who recognise his description to contact me."

The raid follows a knifepoint robbery at a Kemp Town betting shop earlier this year.

Staff endured a terrifying ordeal as the robber confronted them and demanded cash at Ladbrokes in St George's Road. He escaped with hundreds of pounds after ordering staff to hand over money before making his getaway.

Anyone with information on the raid at the Jimyang Trading Company, should call PC Hike on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.