KENT Police are investigating the theft of money taken during an armed robbery outside an Asda store.

Money was taken from Securitas guards who were filling a cash machine outside the store in Kimberley Way at Ashford. The incident happened at about 9.20am on Wednesday.

The robbers threatened the Securitas staff and drove away in a red Bedford Rascal van. The van was later abandoned near the scene and has been recovered for forensic examination.

A police spokesman said: "There were reports of shots being fired but no-one suffered gun shot wounds."

It is not yet known how much money was taken in the robbery.