Three men have been charged with armed robbery in connection with an incident at a bookmakers.

Staff and two customers at a Birchington betting shop were threatened by a gang of three masked men on Tuesday, March 25.

Relief manager, Terry Murphy, was at the Coral shop in Station Road, when the gang burst in just before 7pm.

Mr Murphy said the raiders made him and the customers lie on the floor. He was then ordered to empty the safe.

He said: "It was over in the blink of an eye. The police were waiting outside for them - I've never seen such a police presence; there were about eight vehicles, some from the Met."

The men, who wore balaclavas, were stopped as they attempted to escape. Metropolitan Police Flying Squad officers had blocked in their vehicle, which had been parked close by.

Officers recovered a pistol and £1,300 in cash.

Perry Toms, 25, of no fixed address, and Gary Cripps, 29, of Field Lane, Brentford, Middlesex, were charged with armed robbery. They were remanded in custody at Margate Magistrates Court on Thursday, to appear at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday, April 14.

A third man, Carlos Carballo, required hospital treatment for a minor injury. The 26-year-old of Stanwell New Road, Staines, Middlesex, has been charged with the same offence and appeared at Margate Magistrates Court on Monday.

The arrests followed a joint operation between the Metropolitan Police and Kent Police.