Gun-toting raiders grabbed a woman in her 60s during a shop robbery on Christmas Eve.

The victim, in her late 60s, had a knife put to her throat and was dragged to a counter.

The second offender, carrying a gun, took cash from the till and pushed it into a black canvas bag. The pair then fled.

One customer was in the shop and post office in Newtown Road, Hove, when the raiders burst in at 9.45am.

Both were 6ft, in their 20s and wearing dark clothing and scarves over their faces.

Police spokeswoman Carolyn Bond said: "The victim was badly shaken and we urgently need to speak to witnesses."

Call Brighton and Hove CID on 0845 6070999.

In a separate incident, a shop cashier had a knife put to her throat during a robbery.

The victim, 56 on Christmas Eve, was held up at 9.25pm on Saturday as she worked at Alldays in Carden Avenue, Patcham, Brighton.

The offender waited until the convenience store was empty of customers and confronted the cashier as she was stacking shelves.

He held a 6in kitchen knife to her throat and led her to the till where her female colleague, 22, gave him the contents.

The man fled and the women heard screams outside from bystanders who spotted the knife.

The man wore a black beanie hat with a grey scarf around his face, a black thigh-length coat and black tracksuit bottoms.

It was pouring with rain on Saturday night and the man's clothes were dry so detectives believe he may have had a vehicle.

Detective Constable Peter Davies said: "I want anyone who used Alldays at about 9.15pm on Saturday to contact me.

"When the robber was first in the shop he didn't have the scarf on his face."

Call Brighton and Hove city CID on 0845 6070999 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.