Moped gang armed with AXES attack security van in Hove

It happened at Conway Street, near Hove station, at lunchtime.

One witness, who did not wish to be named, said: "They were on mopeds.

"They went in and robbed them with axes.

"We are shocked. It was right on our door."

He said the "audacious" robbers must have known what time the van had been due to arrive.

"It had three or four days' takings in," he added.

"The driver is really shaken up and is inside being looked after."

He said police were checking CCTV footage in the area.

Another witness said: “I saw the security van in the depot at Conway Street.

“A group of men on mopeds and armed with axes suddenly arrived.

“That’s all I saw.”

Brighton police have said they are looking for two white Lambretta-type scooters, each with two young men on board.

"They sped away from the scene of a robbery in Conway Street shortly before 1.20pm," said police.

The van has now been driven into the depot and the shutters have been closed behind it.

Shortly before this, police officers were seen examining the van in the street.

Police said in a statement: "Police are searching for four robbers who stole two boxes containing cash from a security van crew member in Conway St, Hove at 1.20pm on Monday.

"The crew member was threatened with an axe but not assaulted.

"The robbers left on two white Lambretta-type scooters, in the direction of Old Shoreham Road.

"Anyone who saw what happened or who has seen two scooters of this description in the Hove area during the morning or early afternoon, is asked to call 999 quoting serial 572 of 19/11."

Brighton & Hove Buses managing director Martin Harris said Sussex Police were investigating a robbery that happened when a security firm was making a collection at the company's Conway Street premises today at around 1.20pm.

"There is an extensive network of CCTV cameras in all of our depots and on all of our buses and we're working with the police to catch the culprits."