Burglars broke into a Co-op store and stole cigarettes in an overnight raid.

Police were called after the alarm sounded at 2am at the Co-op in Whitehawk Road on September 23.

Kelly Sexton, 37, dispensary assistant at Kamsons Pharmacy on Whitehawk Road, said: “We came in about 8.50am and all the police were around.

"We got told by a few of the patients that someone had broken into the back of it.”

The store, which is having a new sign made after the old one fell off during repairs, had to close for half a day.

A spokesperson for The Co-operative Food said: “In the early hours of last Tuesday (September 23) our store on Whitehawk Road, Brighton, was broken into and a quantity of cigarettes was stolen.

"CCTV has been given to the police and, as with any incident such as this, we would appeal for anyone with information to come forward.”

Reported burglaries in Whitehawk fell from 14 in July to just three in August.

However the figure rose again to seven in September.

No arrests have been made on the Co-op case as yet.

Anyone who saw what happened or who has other information is asked to contact Sussex Police on 101.