Detectives have launched an investigation after a trophy, cash and alcohol was stolen from an award-winning Indian restaurant.

Taj Barming, on Tonbridge Road, was targeted by a thief between 5.30am on Sunday and 6.30am on Monday.

Spirits and cash are believed to have been taken while the restaurant's award for ARTA Regional Restaurant of the Year was also stolen.

Restaurant owner Kiron Haque phoned the police on Monday after noticing a few bottles of expensive champagne had been pinched and the till area was unusually messy.

He said: "There was mud everywhere. The cleaner cleaned it up but he must have thought it was from the night before.

"I went to the bar to drop the keys off and everything seemed a little bit messy.

"I looked on the other side and there were things there that shouldn't have been. I looked at the bottles and there were gaps. He had taken all the expensive spirits and the champagnes."

Mr Haque's restaurant had been the recipient of the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Award for best restaurant in Kent.

However, the mystery visitor to the restaurant over the weekend made off with that too.

Mr Haque added: "The award has only been here two weeks. It just seems to be never ending at this place.

"There were finger prints everywhere but the police didn't come out until after we had to open the restaurant again and everybody else's finger prints were there."

Anyone who has any information that could help the investigation is asked to contact Kent Police on 01622 604100 quoting reference YY/37442/18

Alternatively contact Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.