A hotel porter was forced to open a safe during a knifepoint robbery in Hove early today.

The night porter at the Sackville Hotel was also ordered to hand over cash from his own wallet during the 4am robbery.

The victim, in his 50s, was then grabbed by the throat and dragged to a nearby phone.

The robber ordered him to call a taxi to take him to Whitehawk, Brighton.

The cab took the suspect to Whitehawk Way, where he told the driver to drop him off outside a block of flats at Kestrel Court.

The victim, who has not been named, called police soon after the robber had left the hotel in Sackville Gardens.

The taxi driver was quickly identified and found but had already dropped the robber off by the time police reached him 15 minutes later.

Scenes of crime officers were today examining the taxi for possible DNA evidence which could help them to identify the suspect.

Inspector Mark Powles said it was not yet known how much money was stolen.

The suspect is in his early 20s, 5ft 8in, slim with blond crew-cut hair.

He was wearing blue knee-length shorts and a cream or white T-shirt with a blue stripe across the chest and sleeves.

Anyone with information should phone Inspector Powles at Hove police station on 0845 6070999.