The owner of a hair-dressing salon has spoken of his anguish and despair after his business was hit by ram-raiders on New Year's Day.

Two men smashed their way through the glass front doors of the Mark Mardell Hair Salon in Dartford's Market Street on a moped.

The aftermath of the raid

The incident which was captured on CCTV inside the salon was over in a minute, but the brazen thieves escaped with a haul of hair-dryers, tongs and wands.

The owner Mark Mardell said: "They seemed to know what they were after, they went straight for the stock. Most of the items were GHD (Good Hair Days) gear, an exceptionally popular brand."

Mr Mardell said that at a rough guess he thought around £3,500 of equipment had been stolen, but the cost to his business is much greater.

He said: "I had to have the entrance boarded up after because the doors and frames were damaged.

"I expect having them replaced will cost as much again."

Plus because there is currently no access for customers to the shop, he has had to cancel clients' appointments and expects the salon to remain closed for the next few days until repairs can be completed.

He said: "Even contacting the insurance company has been difficult because of the Bank Holidays, let alone getting a contractor."

Mr Mardell said: "It's so upsetting, especially coming at the end of what has already been a very frustrating year thanks to Covid."

The raid happened at 5pm, and a customer passing the damaged shop phoned Mr Mardell to tell him at 5.11pm, but when he phoned the police the incident had already been reported to them by several members of the public.

He said: "I went in from my home in Cobham, near Gravesend, as soon as I heard. And all my staff came in to help too when they heard."

"Of course there was very little we could do, but it was lovely to have their support."

The business employs five people.

In the video of the incident, the moped driver after smashing through the doors, drives out again and waits in the street for his accomplice. He can be seen giving a finger gesture to somebody farther down the road.

Mr Mardell said: "I understand that was a lady with children who challenged him and may also have filmed him on her phone.

"I haven't spoken to her yet, I do hope she will get in touch."

Mark Mardell explains what was taken

Mr Mardell's video also clearly reveals the numberplate on the machine the thieves were riding, but that turns out to have been a false number plate, actually belonging to a Honda motorbike.

Mr Mardell admitted to being "really shaken up" by the incident and said: "I even found myself crying for no reason at odd times since."

But he said he had taken heart by the extremely positive reaction he had received on Facebook and social media.

He said "The messages of support have been fantastic. It just shows there are a lot of good people out there."

He said: "I have been in business at this location for 10 years, but I have been a hairdresser in Dartford for 32 years."

He said: "I'm the third generation of hairdressers - the salon was started by my grandfather in 1932, so I don't think a little thing like this is going to stop us."

Police would like to hear from any witnesses to the raid, or from any drivers passing the scene who may have daschcam footage that could prove useful in catching the thieves.

A police spokesman said: "Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is urged to contact Kent Police on 01474 366149 quoting reference 46/603/22."