Police are warning off-licences to be on guard after a spate of robberies.

Shops in Brighton and Hove have been raided nine times in the past two months and, although arrests have been made, the robberies have continued.

The latest happened on Thursday at Thresher's in Queen's Park Road, Brighton.

Detective Inspector Paul Fullwood of Brighton CID said: "We are increasingly concerned about the number of robberies on off-licences and we are treating this extremely seriously."

He believes many of the robberies are linked to crack cocaine and heroin use, with addicts turning to crime for cash to buy fixes.

Two other branches of Thresher's have been robbed. The St George's Road branch was raided on November 23 and the Dyke Road branch on January 9.

Mulberry Wines in Sutherland Road was robbed on Monday and its branch in Bristol Road was raided on January 6 and November 30.

Robbers hit Victoria Wines in The Drove, on December 6 and in Lewes Road, last Sunday. Unwins in Lewes Road was robbed the same evening.

Thursday's robbery was carried out by a man aged about 30, 6ft 4in, with shoulder-length black hair. He wore dark trousers and a cream-coloured jacket.

Witnesses or anyone with information should contact Brighton CID on 0845 6070999.