BETTING shop staff bravely fought off an armed robber who demanded cash and then tried to jump over the counter.

The knifeman entered the BetFred shop in Lewes Road, Brighton, wearing a hat with ear flaps, sunglasses and a scarf, brandishing the knife.

Police said he demanded cash and then went to jump over the counter but the staff fought him off.

They successfully forced him to give up and he left empty handed.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: “Police are investigating the knifepoint robbery of BetFred in Lewes Road, Brighton, at 10.07am on Sunday (January 6).

“A man entered the premises and demanded money. Then he tried to jump over the counter. However, they fought back and he fled empty-handed.

The robber is described as white, possibly eastern-European, in his late 20s and wearing a black jacket, a black leather hat with ear flaps, sunglasses and a red scarf.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to report online or call 101 quoting serial 300 of 06/01.