Post office robbed at gunpoint

A man raided a post office at gunpoint in what police have called a "particularly vicious" robbery.

The man entered the post office in Shirley Avenue, Chatham, Kent, just after 1045 GMT on Friday.

He threatened customers and staff with a handgun before taking a substantial amount of money, Kent Police said.

Detective Sergeant Derek Littler, of Kent Police, said: "This was a particularly vicious robbery and the offender frightened a lot of elderly people who were using the post office at the time."

The man, who was described as white, aged 20 to 30 and wearing dark clothing and a baseball cap, made off down Vale Road.

Mr Littler said it was not yet known if the gun the suspect carried was real or an imitation firearm.

He appealed for anyone who was in the area at the time to contact Medway Police.