A POSTMASTER fought off three robbers during a botched raid at his store in Maidstone.

The attempted robbery at Hardy Street Post Office and Stores, Hardy Street, is being linked by police to a similar raid in Hadlow, near Tonbridge, in which three men threatened staff and then made off with thousands of pounds.

Graham Collins, 50, was working at Hardy Street Post Office on Tuesday when three black men with hoods pulled over their heads walked in at 1.50pm.

One jumped across the counter, but Mr Collins was determined not to let them get away with anything, and a fight broke out between him and the robbers.

He said: "I gave them what for and they went without anything. They didn't even take a bottle of wine off the shelf. I didn't think about being terrified."

Mr Collins was shaken but uninjured and the store re-opened by Wednesday.

Police believe the three men were behind a raid on Hadlow Post Office, High Street, at 3.05pm the same day.

Three black men walked into the post office, threatened staff, and then one jumped over the counter, snatching thousands of pounds.

The robbers ran off towards Carpenters Lane, where they got into a blue Vauxhall Cavalier driven by a white man.

A blue Ford Escort was forced to stop as the men got in and the car pulled off.

Det Sgt Paul Cordier, from West Kent Police said: "We do not believe the Escort is involved in the incident but would like to speak to the driver of the car as they may have information which could be helpful to our investigation."

The three men were all black, in their 20s, and all wore hooded tops. The driver of the Cavalier was white, but there is no further description.

Anyone with information should call West Kent CID on 01732 771055 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.