A postmaster today offered a cash reward to catch raiders who threatened two female workers with a meat cleaver.

Nagpal Sherman, who runs a shop and post office in Elm Grove, Brighton, urged: "It's time we all fought back against these villains."

The raiders threatened the two workers with a knife and a cleaver, then grabbed cash and escaped.

One 29-year-old assistant was so badly shaken that she is off work and does not want to work evening shifts again.

Mr Sherman, who has run the shop for 20 years, said: "This is happening too much around Brighton. Many of these thieves are on drugs and looking for quick cash."

The robbers - two white men in their 20s - entered the shop at 9.15pm on Tuesday and grabbed more than £100 from the till.

Shop assistant Kate Bond, 47, saw the men come in. She said: "I thought it was a joke at first. But these two suddenly produced these weapons and my colleague quickly stepped back from the till.

"She burst into tears afterwards and was very badly shaken."

Acting Detective Inspector Paul Fullwood said: "Two innocent women were threatened with potentially deadly weapons and were left in a state of shock. This was a nasty incident and we need help tracing the culprits."

The robbers escaped on foot, probably across the street into Bonchurch Road.

Both were about 5ft 8in tall and one had a Liverpool accent. The one who carried the meat cleaver wore a black and white scarf round his face and a dark Adidas baseball cap.

The other man wore a beige check hooded jacket and carried a knife.

Mr Sherman's reward is for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the offenders.

Anyone with information should contact Brighton CID on 0845 6070999.