An armed raider was "Tango-ed" yesterday as he fled with bundles of notes from a Brighton travel agents.

Tucked inside the haul was a device that exploded minutes after he escaped - showering him in indelible orange ink.

Startled shoppers looked on as the dazed thief dropped the cash then carried on running.

A police spokesman said: "All his clothes were covered in the stuff, so he probably stripped off as quickly as he could."

Police last night were still hunting the thief who was thought to be in hiding, frightened of showing his orange face and hands.

Brandishing a hand gun, he burst into a branch of Thomas Cook in London Road, shortly after 12.30pm.

Terrified staff handed over thousands of pounds, but slipped in the "agent orange" device, which is specifically designed to track thieves.

All the cash was recovered as the raider fled from London Road across the street into Brunswick Row and through to Ditchling Road.

Detective Sergeant Ray Scales, heading the inquiry, said: "The area was busy with shoppers at the time and the man must have been seen by many people - especially after the device went off."

Witnesses, or anyone with information, should call Det Sgt Scales at Brighton police station on 0845 6070 999.