DETECTIVES are hunting robbers after money was snatched from a Securicor van guard inside a Kent bank.

The incident happened at the HSBC bank on Northdown Road, Cliftonville, near Margate. The security van was parked outside the branch around 2.40pm on Friday and the guard went into the bank to deliver cash.

Two men followed him into the building. One held open the door while the other snatched a bag of cash from the guard as he unloaded it.

One of the robbers and the guard struggled with the plastic bag until it tore open. At that point the robbers escaped with an unknown amount of cash.

During the incident, threats were made to try and convince witnesses that the main robber had a gun.

The two men then ran from the bank to a waiting red or burgundy W-registration people carrier parked on Prices Avenue, which was being driven by a third man, and drove off down Prices Avenue. Nobody was hurt during the robbery.

One robber is described as white, in his late 20s and was wearing a thick black woolly hat, and a short black jacket. A second man is described as white and was wearing a white England hat with a St George cross on it.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses to the robbery, as well as anyone who saw a red people carrier with three people on board in the area on recent Friday afternoons before the robbers struck.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det Sgt Ron Beck at Margate Police Station on 01843 222193.