Copycat raiders could be targeting Worthing businesses following a string of robberies, an MP said today.

The number of raids in the town since Christmas rose to 15 yesterday when two more premises were attacked for the second time in a week.

The Post Office on Lyndhurst Road was the first to be hit at lunchtime yesterday, when a man leapt over the counter and snatched more than £1,000.

Owner Jack Saheid foiled an attempted robbery on Monday after he grappled with a gunman while the weapon was pointed at his face.

Yesterday afternoon a man brandishing a sawn-off shotgun struck at Ladbrokes in Rowlands Road and escaped with £964. The attack came 48 hours after another robbery at the shop.

Police are still examining whether the latest Ladbrokes attack is connected with nine other robberies in the town.

They have launched Operation Texan and put up a £10,000 reward in a bid to catch the raider responsible.

Peter Bottomley, Conservative MP for West Worthing, said he feared armed robbers saw Worthing as a good hunting ground.

He said: "There is a major problem. One armed robbery is one too many and this epidemic has got to be ended.

"Until the person or people behind this series of armed attacks are caught, then the shopkeepers and owners of commercial premises in Worthing face double trouble.

"They face the same people doing it again and they face copycat attacks, and that's why I say it's vital people should be apprehended. It's the worst series of attacks in living memory in Worthing."

Tim Loughton, Tory MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, is to visit both the Lyndhurst Road post office and the Downlands Road post office, which was hit on February 5.

He is also due to go on patrol with police on Friday night and said he would write to Paul Whitehouse, Sussex's Chief Constable with his concerns.

He said: "I'm exceedingly alarmed by the spate of robberies going on in Worthing at the moment. We need to know who's doing it and if they are the same people who are involved.

"I am going to write to the Chief Constable to ask him if he's happy about the resources available to the police in Worthing.

"I want to ask him about all the resources moved from Worthing because of the Sarah Payne inquiry and there are still a lot of people away from other forms of crime fighting locally."

Detective Sergeant Colin Smith declined to comment on whether the latest raids were being carried out by copycat criminals.

He said: "All we can say is there have been a number of armed robberies in Worthing involving sawn-off shotguns."

A spokesman for Ladbrokes said: "We are working closely with the police and we will pursue a prosecution as vigorously as we can.

"Our first priority is our staff and they will get all the advice and help and support they need."

Anne Angel, Worthing town centre manager, said: "Worthing has been on the TV and radio because of the robberies and there may be people coming in from out of town who think it is a soft touch."

Anyone with information should contact Operation Texan on 0845 6070999.