A robber wrenched open the door of a white van before threatening his terrified victim and running off with three sets of car keys.

A man in his 40s was sitting in the vehicle in Cotton Road, Canterbury, just before the incident took place.

After forcing open the door, the robber made threats of violence and took the keys to the van and two other cars.

A police spokesman said: "The suspect walked away and joined another man and a woman who all left in the direction of Cow Lane.

"He was described as white, aged between 35 and 40 years old, about 6 ft 2 ins tall and as having a scruffy short ginger beard.

"He was wearing a brown flat cap, a dark coat, dark trousers and dirty white trainers."

The man he left the scene with is thought to be of a similar age.

He is believed to be 5 ft 10 ins tall, with a short black beard and is said to have been wearing a dark blue flat cap.

The woman they departed with was white and wore a dark grey hooded jacket.

Detectives are urging anyone with information about the incident - which took place at about 3.15pm on January 24 - to call them on 01843 222289, quoting the reference number 46/14611/23.