A GROUP 4 Securicor guard was attacked today in front of scores of commuters as he made a cash delivery to a railway station ticket office.

The victim was threatened with a knife by two assailants and struck on the hand. The incident happened at about 8.35am on the London-bound platform of Staplehurst Station, near Maidstone.

The robbers made off with an unspecified quantity of cash, escaping from the area in a gold Vauxhall Cavalier, which was later found abandoned by the police in the village of Detling.

Maidstone police were quickly on the scene, responding with five vehicles in a matter of minutes, but the offenders had already fled.

The case was later handed over to British Transport Police to investigate. Insp Terry Reene was hopeful that CCTV footage and witness statements would quickly help them to identify the culprits.

One of the offenders also helpfully touched a gate at the side of the platform that was in the process of being repainted and Scenes of Crime Officers were this morning examining the wet paint for fingerprints.