Setting up and sustaining a new restaurant is tough enough.

But when your lunchtime service is interrupted by a police drugs raid, the knock on effects can be disastrous.

This is the unfortunate situation facing one innocent Vietnamese restaurant owner in Gravesend, as he attempts to defend his good reputation following a raid at his business.

Owen Nguyen and his staff at Darnley Road’s Lang Viet were left frightened and shocked after Kent Police stormed the restaurant on April 24.

As customers tucked into Vietnamese spring rolls, hanoi pho and wonton noodle soup, their peaceful lunch was interrupted by 20 police officers - some of them armed - in possession of a search warrant.

Mr Nguyen, who set up the business with his mother seven months ago, revealed how frightening the incident was for the customers and his three staff.

He said: “A lot of my lunch customers are pensioners and it was scary for them. I didn’t know what was going on. About 20 came in through the front door but I didn’t realise others had come in the back and the biggest ones with guns were searching the chef who doesn’t speak English.

“When you are brought up in a communist country it’s natural to be scared. In Vietnam the police can beat you up whether its right or wrong.”

Although nothing was found following the raid, the 32-year-old is concerned he will lose customers because of the premises’ former reputation.

In November 2006 almost 600 cannabis plants, with a street value of between £119,400 and £149,250, were discovered in the flat above the restaurant - then known as the Evergreen takeaway.

Mr Nguyen said: “When we bought it we didn’t know the history. We are struggling anyway because the previous reputation wasn’t good. Since the recent raid a few customers have distanced themselves. But we don’t know what the long term effects will be as we rely on word of mouth recommendations.”

The restaurant, which serves up a wide selection of Vietnamese, Chinese cuisine and fish and chips, was also a favourite for customers from the bingo hall in New Road which closed last month.

Mr Nguyen is hoping people will not be put off by the raid and will continue to come to his restaurant.

He added: “When they finished searching they said sorry. But the damage is done now. I just don’t understand why it happened.”

North Kent Police had not yet commented.