A purse snatching gang may have travelled across the Sussex coast and stole money from several pensioners.

From late-morning to mid-afternoon on Thursday, May 29, purse thefts happened in Hastings, Bexhill, Battle, Seaford, Newhaven and Eastbourne.

Sussex Police believe the crimes are connected.

The victims were mainly elderly people who were distracted by the crooks in shops and supermarkets.

Police said the victims may have been distracted by an Asian man or two Asian women as their purses were stolen.

The Asian man is described as being in his late 30s or early 40s and may have been driving a black Mercedes car registration L446 GCP.

Detective Sergeant Simon Burrowes said: "I am appealing to anyone who witnessed these thefts, saw these people acting suspiciously or had become victims themselves.

"We believe these suspects travelled from outside the county and left via the A23 in the afternoon."

Anybody with information should contact Newhaven CID on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.