A GUNMAN with puffy eyes held up a bookmakers and demanded cash before stuffing his haul into a Tesco bag for life and fleeing.

With the gunman still on the loose, police are appealing for witnesses to the armed robbery at Ladbrokes in Rowlands Road, Worthing last night.

At about 7.53pm on Thursday (August 18), officers were called to Ladbrokes in Rowlands Road following a report of a man with a gun.

The offender had walked into the shop, where customers were busy betting, and demanded staff hand over money from the till while holding a black handgun.

He got away with about £70 in cash and was seen to run north along Wordsworth Road. No one was hurt.

Police said the robber was described as white, in his mid-20s, between 5ft 10in and 6ft, with distinctively puffy eyes.

He was wearing a grey hoodie with a Nike logo across the back and a black scarf covering his face. He was carrying a Tesco "bag for life", containing the cash.

Detective Sergeant Simon Dunn said: "This was an understandably distressing incident for the victims and witnesses involved, and thankfully no one was harmed.

"All efforts are now being put in place to find those responsible and I would urge anyone with any information, no matter how insignificant you think that might be, to get in touch. Your help will be treated in the strictest confidence.”

Witnesses should email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101, quoting serial 1383 of 18/08.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.