Armed robbers were forced to flee a post office halfway through a raid when a customer started hurling cans of food.

Two men brandishing a shotgun and a knife were chased off by a man as the pair tried to rob Islingword Road Post Office in Brighton.

The offenders ran off empty-handed as they were pelted with tins of baked beans and other canned goods.

Now customers are furious that Sussex Police failed to inform the public or The Argus about the incident, which happened on Wednesday.

Owen Uglow, 46, of Woodingdean, told how one man pointed a sawn-off shotgun at him, while another held a knife to a female customer's throat during the incident. Police were alerted when staff hit the alarms.

Mr Uglow said: "One of the people behind the counter heard one man say, Hand over the money or I'll slit their throats'.

"One gentleman in the queue was a retired sub-postmaster. He absolutely went ballistic. He started shouting and lobbing cans at them and they ran out of the shop. I think they were amazed as anyone at his reaction."

The woman who was held at knifepoint suffered a slight cut on her cheek when she pushed the attacker away.

Mr Uglow said the other raider turned his weapon, which appeared to be a sawn-off shotgun, towards him.

He said he was dismayed to find the incident not mentioned on TV news or in The Argus.

He added: "Is this such a regular occurrence that nobody needs know? Do people have to be killed or seriously injured before the information is given to the public?"

It was not until Mr Uglow contacted The Argus that police confirmed it had taken place.

Bill Randall, who represents the Hanover and Elm Grove ward on Brighton and Hove City Council, said: "I'm surprised they didn't issue information because local media can be very helpful in these circumstances."

Sussex Police spokeswoman Sue Heard said: "Police are actively following up leads and it was deemed that a direct appeal was not needed at the time."

Police found discarded clothing and weapons nearby. No arrests have yet been made.

Police have issued descriptions of the men who attempted the raid - despite initially deciding not to release news of the incident to The Argus.

The first was described as olive-skinned, with a shaved head, about 5ft 10in, in his early 20s and of slim, athletic build. He was wearing a dark hooded top, white trainers, dark tracksuit bottoms and a black baseball cap.

The second man was white, 5ft 8in and wore dark jeans and a running top. He had dark hair and was in his late teens or early 20s. Both had Liverpool accents.