POLICE are offering a £500 reward to help catch and convict a man suspected of carrying out a spate of robberies.

The robberies took place on September 6, 19 and 22, all at around 4pm. Officers are now appealing for any information to help catch the robber in return for a reward and have released CCTV footage of one of the attacks.

On Saturday, September 6, at around 3.45pm a man came into the Caterways store in Merryfield Drive, Horsham and demanded cash while brandishing a hammer. The shop worker handed over around two hundred pounds and the man left in the direction of Greenway.

At about 4.20pm on Saturday, September 19, a man entered The Warnham Village Store in Warnham. He brandished a knife and demanded money from the shop assistant, but other staff heard the threats and came to assist. The man ran out of the shop empty handed, turning right into Church Street.

On Thursday, September 22, at 4.15pm police were called to the general stores in Elm Grove, Horsham, where a man had come in holding a hammer and demanded money. He hit the till several times with the hammer and took money from the counter before leaving the shop and running up the alley opposite Eversfield Road.

Detective sergeant Jon Robeson said: "We are linking these three robberies, due to the similar actions and description of the suspect, the locations and the similarities in times. The man is described as wearing tights over his face on all three occasions. He is also thought to be white and in his late 20s or 30s.

"In this CCTV footage, from the Elm Grove robbery, he is wearing a distinctive blue hoodie and we are keen to hear from anyone who might have seen a man acting suspiciously in the area of the any of these stores or if you recognise this man.

"Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk quoting Operation Switch."