A newsagents in Rochester was robbed shortly after it opened this morning.

Staff at McColls, in Orion Road, were threatened by two men who escaped with cash from the till at about 6.30am.

Police have cordoned of the entrance to the shop and forensic officers were there at about 8am taking photographs and examining the scene.

Officers are appealing for witnesses to come forward.

One of the robbers is described as white, of stocky or fat build, and was wearing a grey hooded top and grey bottoms with three white stripes running down each leg.

The other robber is also white and was wearing a dark blue tracksuit.

One pensioner, who lives in nearby Warren Wood Road, said: "I saw the police cars outside the shop as I went to get my morning paper.

"The entrance area has been cordoned off. Then when I took the dog for a walk up the field, near Marconi Way, the police were up there too - they were looking for something."

It is not the first time the shop has been raided by robbers.

In 2010, it was robbed by thieves wearing balaclavas who made off with hundreds of pounds.

The shop, at the junction of Orion and Leander Road, was targeted at 9.30pm on Wednesday, March 17, when just under £400 was taken.

At the time, police said two men wearing balaclavas pulled down to hide their faces went into the shop and demanded money.

One of the men forced open the till and snatched money.

The two ran out with the cash in a white plastic bag and ran away along Pennant Road.

Anyone who might have seen the robbers this morning is urged to phone police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.