Moments from a gunman's bullets

One bullet missed but a second struck Darren Prior in the chest.

Incredibly, Mr Prior was saved by his mobile phone which absorbed the impact, leaving him in shock but unscathed.

Footage captured by security cameras shows Mr Prior chasing the armed robber through a busy shopping precinct.

Today, The Argus publishes pictures released by police which show how the drama unfolded after the robber held up Amore Jewellers in Piries Place, Horsham, shortly after 4pm on Thursday.

The Argus reported yesterday how Mr Prior, the 23-year-old shop manager, ran after the 6ft robber.

He was fired at as he chased the hooded figure across the square and into an alleyway called Pump Alley.

He carried on the chase even though the bullet had missed him by inches.

He was then shot at again. The second bullet ripped through the breast pocket of Mr Prior's suit, hit his mobile phone and dented the battery.

Mr Prior told one officer it was a miracle he was not hurt. Detective Inspector Jo Wainwright, leading the inquiry, said: "There is no doubt the phone has saved him from serious injury."

Mr Prior was interviewed yesterday at Horsham police station to help detectives trace the gunman.

Meanwhile, police conducted a fingertip search of the alleyway and forensics experts examined his damaged LG flip-top mobile phone.

Lee Lawson, owner of Amore, said: "Darren is very lucky. I suppose what he did was very brave but you could also call it a few other things.

"We are trying to finish a stock-take so we can tell the police what was stolen. We will be open again tomorrow."

The gunman who fired on Mr Prior went into Amore and demanded jewellery.

He grabbed a handful of gems and fled the shop.

In one image from the CCTV cameras, Mr Prior is seen gaining on the fleeing gunman.

Another shows the robber apparently walking in front of the jewellery shop.

The robber was caught on another camera which shows him carrying the gun in his right hand as runs away from the scene.

The man was last seen in the car park in Denne Road, shortly after shooting at Mr Prior, but police are still trying to work out where he went next.

People who had been peacefully drinking or shopping in the square described their shock at hearing a gunshot fired in the upmarket area.

Donna Gessey, owner of La Vida clothes shop next door to Amore, had been sitting with friends at a nearby pub.

She said: "We heard a loud bang and thought a signboard had blown over.

"Then someone from my shop ran to us and said there had been a robbery with a gun.

"I went into Amore and calmed down one of the shop assistants who was shaking.

"It's quite shocking that this happened here.

"I will be more nervous and aware of telling the girls what to do if someone were to come in."

Brett Hunnisett, 33, manager of a Bang and Olufsen shop a few doors away from Amore, said: "Being in a TV shop I thought the gunshot must have come from one of the TV sets.

"I didn't realise what had happened until the police came in and cordoned the area off."

"There were still people milling around, looking at each other and wondering what was going on.

"There was panic around the square."

Mr Hunnisett said Mr Prior was well known in the precinct.

He said: "He is a really nice guy who is very involved with life in the square.

"He is just the sort of bloke who would go after someone like that.

"He's really not the type who lets people walk over him."

Detectives are appealing for anyone who may have seen the man, described as black and wearing a white baseball cap, dark hooded top and white trousers with a dark stripe.

Ms Wainwright said: "We are particularly keen to trace where this man has gone once he has entered the Denne Road car park.

"We need to hear from anyone who saw a man who fits the description.

"It is possible that he left in a car."

People in Horsham were shocked by the crime.

Butcher Dennis Hardy, chairman of Horsham Traders' Guild, said: "Gun crime like this is very unusual in Horsham.

"It's difficult to say how one would react if someone was shooting at you. Some people would just freeze.

"I like to think I would give chase but until it happens I'm not sure.

"I have nabbed people outside for stealing meat and placed them under citizen's arrest but it's a different ball game when someone's got a gun."

Traders in Piries Place said Mr Prior took an active part in the life of the square by going to tenancy meetings and organising bands to play there.

Christine Costin, who runs a book shop close to the scene of the robbery, said: "I just feel sympathy for the shopworker involved. It is a really nasty thing to happen, just terrible.

Horsham is a glorious place and we regard it as a safe shopping area."

William Parsonson, Liberal Democrat councillor for Horsham Town Centre, said: "I am genuinely shocked by this.

"We have problems with rowdy kids who have got nothing better to do in Horsham but never armed robbery."

Sussex has seen a drop in gun crime. In the 12 months before September 2004 there were 82 firearms incidents reported compared with 136 in 2002/03.

Ms Wainwright added: "This is being treated as a major incident.

Our priority is to find this man and where he went after he left Denne Road.

"We have been conducting stop-and-searches in the town centre as well as carrying out house-to-house inquiries.

"We remain open-minded about whether the gunman was local or just passing through "We are reassuring traders and members of the public that this sort of incident is very unusual in Horsham."

Police recovered a spent cartridge and sent it away for forensic examination.

Antonio Nunes, owner of El Bodegon restaurant, directly opposite the jewellery shop, said: "I don't know Mr Prior well but I say hello and he seems like a nice, unassuming guy.

"He's not a very big guy so it does surprise me a bit that he gave chase.

"We have a few fights around here at night with the drunks but never anything with guns.

"It is definitely getting more violent around here."

The shooting happened yards away from The Crown pub, where last July landscape gardener Peter Uttley, 36, was killed during a fight.

Andrew Hansen, 36, of Penn Gardens, Ashington, went on trial for murder earlier this year but the jury was discharged for legal reasons.

He is to be retried. Members of the public gathering in Piries Place bar B52 for a drink last night expressed shock.

Keith Jury, 54, of St Leonards Road, Horsham, said: "It's such a nice and quiet little area.

"It must have been very frightening for everyone. It's just not the sort of place you expect chases and gunshots."

Steve Gray, 29, of Harwood Road, Horsham, added: "It's a bit worrying if someone is running around and prepared to use a gun.

June Burt, 53, of Rushams Road, Horsham, said: "I've got grandchildren and I keep thinking about them getting hit by a bullet.

"It makes my blood go cold. "What sort of lunatic does that?

"The sooner he is behind bars, the better."