THIEVES stole hundreds of pounds worth of jewellery from a flat above a shop.

A group of three or four men and five women of Middle Eastern appearance entered the shop in Gladstone Road, Willesborough, near Ashford, at around 2.30pm on Friday.

They were in the shop for between 10 and 15 minutes and police believe they distracted the two shop assistants while others went up into the flat and stole the jewellery, which was worth about £780.

Everyone in the group is described as being aged between 20 and 25 and they all wore black. One of the women was holding a baby - she had light hair. The rest of the group had black hair and all of the men were dark-skinned except one.

A similar incident took place at the Broomfield post office in Herne Bay on Wednesday morning. Police say they are not linking the incidents at this stage.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 01303 289180 or Kent Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.