Police have warned of the dangers of carrying fake guns after an incident sparked several 999 calls.

Officers were alerted after a group of men were seen firing a gun from a car as it sped along Portland Road, Hove.

Police received three calls from worried residents saying they could hear shots being fired and had seen flashes coming from the muzzle of the weapon.

The suspects fired shots at two girls, let off a volley of four shots outside the Golden Cross pub and pointed the gun at a man in nearby Olive Road soon after 11pm on Wednesday last week.

Inspector Mark Powles said: "It was almost certainly an imitation firearm but it goes without saying the consequences of firing any gun in a public place could be serious."

He appealed for anyone with information about the incident to call Hove police station on 0845 6070999.