A shopkeeper has told of the terrifying moment a masked would-be robber wielding an axe came into his shop and demanded money.

Kulnithivel Vithyakaran had been unloading goods at the Milton Express in the Denton area of Gravesend at about 7.45pm on Friday night, January 27, when the masked man entered.

CCTV shows his 18-year-old son, Havinees, 18, being threatened by the man as he stood behind the counter.

Video: CCTV footage from the attempted raid

The robber left the shop empty-handed when other staff members arrived and ran to a car park in Elliot St where he jumped over a wall.

Mr Vithyakaran, 42, said: "Everyone kept calm and after about five minutes he ran out without anything."

The police helicopter was scrambled and residents also reported officers carrying out searches on foot.

People living near the shop, formerly a Nisa Local, said the helicopter was hovering above their homes at about 8pm.

One woman said police with torches were searching a nearby park.

Father and son describe how axeman entered Milton Express

Mr Vithyakaran added: "We have CCTV which we will be giving to the police. He must have been waiting outside."

He has run the store for eight years, and said: "This has not put me off. Thankfully nobody was hurt."

A police spokesman said: "Police were called to an attempted robbery at a shop in the Denton area of Gravesend.

"The incident happened at about 7.45pm at the Milton Express convenience store in East Milton Road. The shop was open at the time, nobody was injured.

"No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing."

The man is described as white, 5ft 7in, of thin build, with blond hair, wearing a cap, balaclava, gloves and black clothing. The axe is said to have been approximately 50cm long with a metal handle covered in black rubber.

Anyone with information that can help is asked to contact Kent Police on 01474 366149 quoting reference XY/004283/17.