Armed police were called into action after a shot was fired in an attempted robbery on a security van.

It happened at about 3.10pm yesterday in Norman Road, St Leonards.

A security van was stopped by a group of men who threatened staff with a gun.

A shot was fired but no one was injured.

Police scrambled an armed response unit to the scene, believing one of the suspects was still in the vicinity.

The area was cordoned off for a time while police tried to track the culprits.

The attempted robbery happened in a seafront area close to a parade of shops.