Two armed robbers who hid in a school have been jailed.

Dominic Mendy and Danny Palmer, both 31 and from London, were arrested at The Vale First and Middle School in Findon Valley, Worthing, in March, after holding a security van up at gunpoint at a Tesco superstore in Chichester.

The pair both received indeterminate sentences for public protection today – meaning after a minimum term they must prove they are no threat to society before being released.

Mendy must serve at least four years. Palmer received a five and a half year minimum term.

Detective Inspector Trevor Bates, of Worthing and Adur CID, said: "This was a potentially very dangerous situation for the school, but staff moved very promptly to keep the children safe and at no stage were they in any direct danger.

"It is clear that the two men had simply panicked, left their guns in the car, and gone into the first building they came across in which they thought they might hide."