TWO robbers armed with a fake handgun threatened a civil servant on his way home from a curry with Home Secretary John Reid.

A 29-year-old man, who works for the Home Office, was approached and threatened by a man with a toy gun at Belmont Road junction with Croydon Road, Beckenham, last night.

The victim believed the gun to be fake but feared the worst when he was further intimidated by a second male and handed over his wallet containing cheques, credit cards and his mobile phone.

A police spokesman said: "We're not sure what his role is in the Home Office but we assume that he must be quite close to John Reid because we don't think he would take just anyone out for a curry."

Two males, aged 19 and 17, were later arrested and are in custody helping police with enquiries.