A bookmaker has told how armed raiders held up his shop but were arrested as they fled with money from the safe.

Two customers and the relief manager, Terry Murphy, were in Corals in Station Road, Birchington, when three men wearing balaclavas burst in just before 7pm on Tuesday.

Mr Murphy said the raiders made him and the customers lie on the floor. He was then ordered to empty the safe.

"It was over in the blink of an eye," he said. "I doubt they were (real) guns, they were probably just bits of wood. The police were waiting outside for them - I've never seen such a police presence; there were about eight vehicles, some from the Met.”

He added: “It's the third time I've been held up. It's just unlucky that I was here at the wrong time."

But officers from Kent Police and the Metropolitan Police Flying Squad pounced as the robbers attempted to escape, blocking their getaway car parked nearby.

After a brief struggle, three men were arrested. A pistol and an undisclosed quantity of cash were recovered from the scene.

No shots were fired during the incident and no members of the public or police officers were injured, but one of the suspects received hospital treatment for a minor injury.

All three suspects, from London, remain in police custody.

The swoop was a joint operation between the Metropolitan Police and Kent Police.

East Kent Supt Chris Hogben said: “This is an excellent example of how two neighbouring police forces can co-operate to bring about a very successful conclusion.

“The arrest of these suspects was professionally handled in such a way as to ensure public safety was not compromised.

“This is not a case of Thanet criminals possessing firearms and using them for criminal purposes. This is a case of people travelling a significant distance to commit a crime in Birchington and, as a result of a highly successful police operation, they have discovered that this sort of criminal activity will not be tolerated in Kent.”

The men were arrested as they attempted to escape in a car. It is believed they are from London. The area was sealed off during the incident but has since re-opened.

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