TWO hooded robbers threatened a store owner and his 68-year-old assistant with a chain in a dawn raid.

The robbers stole cigarettes and a small amount of cash from Bow General Stores in Bow Road, Wateringbury, near Maidstone, on Sunday.

Store owner, Brian Cooper said: "They said, 'get down on the floor,' which we did and then they started emptying the cigarette gantry. I tried to make a break for it and fell over my own feet.

"They said, 'give us your money' and I said, 'we haven't got any money." He added: "We make damn sure there's not a lot of money about."

The two offenders, both white, about 5ft 11in and wearing balaclavas, grabbed what loose change they could find in the till and made off in a red car towards Tonbridge.

One was wearing blue jeans, a black hood and was carrying a blue holdall. The other wore a grey top with a red hood. The incident happened at about 5.45am.

The store has been raided at least four times during the 18 years that Mr Cooper has owned it, once by robbers wielding a gun.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det Sgt Graham Hooks on 01622 608182 or Crimestoppers free and confidentially on 0800 555111.