A SECURITY guard has talked publicly for the first time about how he outfoxed a masked gunman with a karate manoeuvre.

The raider sprang out of a parked car as the security man was carrying a box full of money to his van outside McDonalds in St Clements Way, Greenhithe, near Dartford, on Monday last week.

The martial arts expert, who wished not to be named, told how he leapt out of the way using the 'backstance' technique as the robber lowered his arm and fired the gun.

Wearing a balaclava, the raider had earlier fired a warning shot above the worker's head as a fellow employee guarded the van. "It happened very quickly - we are talking about a matter of seconds," he said. "I did not have time to be terrified. He rushed across the tarmac at me like a lunatic.

"My reaction was instant and that's probably what threw him. The gun may have been firing blanks but if they were real, that's what saved me."The guy was scared. I realised he didn't want anything more to do with it. After the event, the enormity of it bears down on you."

The victim then ran round the corner clutching the cash while the robber, who it is believed had an accomplice waiting in a white Suzuki Swift turbo nearby, fled empty-handed. The vehicle was later abandoned on a footpath off Bean Road.

Anyone with information on the failed robbery is asked to call Det Sgt Barry Stanford on 01322 283154.