Police are searching for two men after an attempted armed robbery at a shop earlier today.

The police were called at 11.42am to reports that two men were attempting to rob the Livingstone Road Stores off Valley Drive, Gravesend.

A Kent Police spokeswoman said that it is not yet known if the men took anything.

Temporary staff were brought in to run the store this afternoon.

The post office counter within the premises remained shut.

This comes after three men were arrested in connection with another attempted armed robbery, just over a mile away, when a worker was assaulted at the Tesco Express in Valley Drive, Gravesend at the weekend.

Witnesses reported that a man entered through the back door of Tesco at about 6.25pm and a woman was slashed across the face with a knife on Saturday, December 10.

The police spokeswoman said: "A member of staff was assaulted and suffered injuries.

"SECamb (South East Coast Ambulance Service) were called to treat the victim.

"The men covered their faces - it was reported the two white men wore pillow cases with eye holes cut out."

Three men, 15, 20, and 27, were arrested on suspicion of robbery and have been released on bail while inquiries are ongoing.

The store was shut for several hours.

A Tesco spokeswoman said: "Our thoughts are with the member of staff who was caught up in the incident and we would like to appeal for any witnesses to come forward."