A security guard was shot in the face at close range today as stunned festive shoppers looked on.

The Securicor guard was hit when he tackled two men who stole a case from his van while two colleagues were inside.

The case of cash was destined for a dispenser outside Shelley's food shop in High Street, Hastings, at noon.

As the guard wrestled with the two raiders, one produced a gun and shot him in the lower face and mouth.

The men fled through Post Office Passage into Winding Street before jumping into a getaway car.

A gold A-registration Ford Granada was later found abandoned within an hour about three quarters of a mile away opposite Fairlight Road.

The guard was taken to the Conquest Hospital in Hastings with serious facial injuries. His life is not thought to be in danger.

A colleague was also taken to hospital for injuries sustained in the struggle and a third guard was treated for shock.

Detective Constable Gary Batchelor, of Hastings police, said: "It was a really nasty attack."

The two men were white and wore dark waist-length fleece tops and light blue jeans.

Both were of average height and build and wore horizontally-striped pale blue and yellow woollen hats and scarves.

Anyone with information should call Hastings CID on 0845 6070999.