A Worthing off-licence has been targeted by armed robbers for the second time in three weeks.

Last night's shotgun raid brings the number of armed robberies in the Worthing area up to seven since Christmas.

All are thought to have been carried out by the same man.

The Thresher store in Church Road, Tarring, was held up at 8.40pm. The gunman escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The previous raid at Thresher happened on January 17, when a man held up staff with a sawn-off shotgun and made off with a can of soft drink and cash.

Detectives in Worthing believe the spate of armed robberies in the area are linked.

Other raids have included one at the Village Stores, also in Church Road, Tarring, last Monday; at the Heene Road garage on January 4, and 8; at the Murco garage in Sompting Road on December 28; and at the BP garage in Brighton Road on January 13.

Police spokesman Nick Sandford said: "Police are linking these incidents together and all of them are under active investigation.

"We believe the same offender is involved in each of these robberies and we are asking the public and retailers to be vigilant.

"If they see somebody who fits this description acting suspiciously near retail premises they should contact police on 999 and not approach him directly."

The raider is said to be white, 5ft 8in tall and has worn a cream fleece top with a scarf covering his face.

Anyone with any information should call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999.