Police today issued an urgent appeal today to find the prime suspects in a terrifying machete robbery in Brighton and a shotgun hold-up in Eastbourne.

Detectives released photofit pictures and urged anyone recognising the men to come forward.

Officers are worried the villains' escalating level of violence could result in injury.

The raiders struck first at the home of a 56-year-old businessman.

Wearing crash helmets, they burst into the house in Surrenden Road, Brighton, pushing him back inside.

They threatened him with a machete and forced him to lie face down on the ground while they tied his hands.

They spent 15 minutes ransacking rooms before escaping with jewellery and a TV.

The robbers stole the victim's keys and drove off in his blue Volvo estate car, registration N763YHP.

Two days later, the vehicle was used in a hold-up at a jewellery shop.

Staff at Gold Arts, in Terminus Road, Eastbourne, were threatened with a shotgun and a knife.

The pair fled to the Volvo which was later found burned out in Hartington Place, Eastbourne.

Today's photofits were collated from descriptions from passers-by who saw the pair leaving the Surrenden Road address.

Detective Constable Pat Sweeney, of Brighton and Hove CID, said: "We need to speak to anyone who recognises these men.

"We also need witnesses who saw the blue Volvo any time between the times of the Brighton and Eastbourne robberies.

The Surrenden Road raid happened on November 11 and the Eastbourne robbery on November 13.