A robber armed with a knife has stolen £40,000 worth of merchandise and money from a jeweller in Canterbury's Burgate.

The man struck at the family owned Michael Stilwell jewellers at 2.40pm on Monday.

He forced two female employees into a back room, cut phone lines and cleared an entire window display of diamond rings, earrings and pendants.

Mr Stilwell, 60, says the women were traumatised, but unhurt.

"Being robbed like this is something you always think about as an occupational hazard," he said.

"But in 40 years of business we've had windows smashed, but never had an armed raid like this."

• Audio: Michael Stilwell praise his staff for their actions >>>

Police are searching for a man in his 50s, slim, grey-haired and unshaven.

He was wearing a tweed coat, flat cap, glasses, tan trousers, black gloves and brown shoes. He smelled of alcohol and may have been drinking in a local pub before the robbery.

Det Sgt Chris Greenstreet said: “We are particularly keen to trace a man and a woman who came out of the shop just as the alarm went off and walked towards the Buttermarket.

"The woman was wearing a beige coat and was carrying a shoulder bag. We do not believe that they had anything to do with the robbery but they may have information that could help us trace this man.”

Anyone with information or who is offered jewellery should contact officers on 01227 868117.

•For full story see this week's Kentish Gazette