ROBBERS stole a cash box containing at least £25,000 from a Securicor guard delivering to a Kent bank.

The female guard was threatened with what was thought to be a black handgun during the robbery outside the NatWest branch h in Rainham High Street.

The robbers, one wearing a balaclava, grabbed the cash box at about 11.30am on Wednesday. The masked gunman ran to a waiting dark grey Ford Fusion and was driven off.

The car was later found abandoned in nearby Gatekeepers Chase and the robbers are thought to have made off in a dark coloured BMW, which had been parked in Cherry Tree Walk.

The Ford Fusion, registration number EA04 JHJ, had been stolen on Monday, October 10, in Essex.

The 16 members of staff locked themselves inside the premises while the robbery was going on. They watched the terrifying scenes unfold on CCTV cameras and the branch was closed for the rest of the day while they recovered from the shock.

Detectives hunting the pair have issued descriptions. The masked gunman was white and was wearing a three-quarter length black coat and dark coloured jeans.

The driver of the vehicle was described as white, in his late 20s to early 30s, 6ft, and clean-shaven with short, dark hair and a pale complexion. He wore a black bomber jacket.

Det Insp Janine Chaney, who is investigating the robbery said: "Anyone who saw the cars described, the two offenders or anything suspicious should contact us on Medway 01634 884158, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111."