The gunman thought to have struck five times across the county has claimed a sixth victim.

The robber was staying as a guest at a bed and breakfast today before he robbed the landlady and fled.

He took around £200 in cash as the landlady slept and then held a gun to her head when she woke up and confronted him.

Detectives are now appealing for witnesses to help them catch him - while warning businesses to be on the look-out in case he targets them next.

Genifer Best, who has owned the Palm Court Guesthouse in Kingsway, Hove, for 23 years, had met the robber when he checked in on Friday night.

He gave his name as Kurt Eggenberger which police revealed was the name of one of his victims.

The mystery man paid £80 in cash to stay on Friday and Saturday night.

But when Mrs Best fell asleep on her sofa in the early hours of this morning he snatched her handbag and took it to his room.

Mrs Best, 50, said: “I woke up, realised it had gone and ran upstairs.

“I asked 'have you seen my handbag?' and pushed the door open only to find he had it and was spreading my things out over the bed.

“He then got out this gun and held it up to me so I backed off.

“I had around £200 in cash because my son had paid me some money he owed.

“He threw the gun down, left his stuff and ran out of the door and I chased him but he got away.”

Mrs Best said he was black, in his 20s and of medium build, approximately 5ft 8in with dark hair and a London accent.

She said he was well dressed, fresh faced and had told another guest he was from the capital.

Mrs Best chased him down St Kenya Road, Glastonbury Road and Middleton Avenue before losing sight of him.

Police were at the scene within minutes but he had already escaped.

Armed officers were at railway stations in Brighton and Hove at 5am this morning when the first available train would be ready but did not find anyone fitting his description.

But detectives believe he works alone so may have escaped by taxi or bus rather than being picked up.

The gun that was found at Palm Court was later discovered to be a replica.

Mrs Best said: “I'm worried that with the amount of cash he took he could buy another gun relatively quickly.”

The gunman is being linked to five other incidents in which staff working alone in small shops have been threatened until they handed over cash from tills over the last five weeks.

On August 13 at around 7am a newsagent in Western Road, Hove, was targeted.

Six days later another newsagent in Preston Road, Brighton, was hit at the same time in the morning, shortly after it had opened.

On August 22 a man walking along a footpath near Three Bridges railway station in Crawley was approached by a man with a gun who took his wallet and mobile phone before running away at around 8.45pm.

And on August 26 the same raider is believed to have struck at a Bureau de Change in Western Road, Brighton, 1pm despite the fact it was a Saturday on one of the busiest shopping streets in the city.

On Friday at 2.30pm the gunman struck at the Elegant clothes shop in The Broadway, Haywards Heath.

Again a lone member of staff was behind the till and threatened with a gun.

In each case the robber was no more than a few minutes away from a railway station.

Detective Inspector John Wallace of Brighton and Hove CID said: “We are warning business premises to be aware of this man, particularly those with lone employees.

“Please look out for anyone showing unwarranted attention to your premises and ensure your CCTV is in use.

“It is possible the man has used other bed and breakfasts in the Brighton and Hove area and I would urge owners to contact police if they have any information.”

If you witnessed any of the robberies or if you are a taxi or bus driver that may have picked him up call Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 quoting Operation Greenway.