A customer was held hostage when a knifeman wearing pink ski goggles held up a takeaway pizza shop.

The raider walked into Perfect Pizza in Church Road, Hove, at 10.30pm last night.

He grabbed a customer who was waiting for a pizza and held a 5in kitchen knife to his throat.

The knifeman ordered staff at the shop to hand over cash from the till.

Sergeant Stephen Barry, of Hove police, said: "The manager gave him two £10 notes and he left the shop and went off towards George Street.

"A witness said he had seen the man earlier approaching people in George Street.

"He was asking them for money, saying there was no room at the night shelter and he needed the money for somewhere to stay.

"We would like to hear from anyone he may have approached during the evening."

The suspect wore pink or red ski goggles and a hooded top pulled down over his face.

Witnesses were unable to tell the colour of his skin because of this, but said he was 5ft 6in tall and of slim to medium build.