A MAN has admitted carrying out an armed raid at a village store which prompted a major police operation.

David Reilly, 23, of Walnut Lane, pleaded guilty to robbing the Costcutter shop in Kessingland High Street when he appeared for a plea and case management hearing at Ipswich Crown Court. He also admitted possession of a quantity of diamorphine, a Class A drug.

The robbery occurred just before 5.15pm on Saturday, November 6.

At the time, police reports said a man had entered the convenience store.

He walked around various stands and was seen near a chest freezer, before walking up to the counter.

When he got there, it was alleged a gun was pointed at shop worker Anjana Patel.

A panic alarm was set off and when Reilly went to leave the shop he found his way blocked by a female customer, who was at the door.

Reilly returned to the counter and snatched �300 from the till, before fleeing the shop.

But the incident was said to have been caught on closed circuit television, and a member of the public saw Reilly leave Costcutter and run across the High Street. The man alerted police to a Vauxhall Vectra – which was believed to have been used as the getaway car.

The vehicle had left The Avenue without its lights on.

Armed police and other officers, including those in the Suffolk police helicopter, set off in pursuit. The car was seen driving on the A12, past Wrentham, before it eventually came to a stop in Wenhaston, where it was reported that two occupants had left the vehicle.

Reilly was arrested nearby.

After entering guilty pleas on Tuesday, Reilly was released on bail until his sentencing, which is due to take place during the week commencing February 21. A second man, aged 45, was also arrested after Reilly was detained.

However, a Suffolk police spokesman said that no further action would be taken against the other man.