A mum says she was left terrified when three men blocked her way on a busy road and tried to get in her car.

Lou Smith was driving down Commercial Road, Strood, when she was targeted in what she now believes was an 'accident scam'.

Footage from her rear dashcam shows the moment she was stopped

One of the men jumped on the bonnet of her black Chevrolet and pretended she'd hit him before he started to record her on his phone.

She said: "I was terrified, they blocked my car in the road and started walking towards me and so I locked my door.

"One of them threw himself on my vehicle and pretended I had hit him, he then started recording me.

"Then they were messing around with the front off my car and wheel before they walked to my door and tried getting in.

"At this time, I was trying to reverse and get around them the whole time and I ended up driving around up onto the pavement."

The 34-year-old recorded the incident on her rear dashcam but unfortunately her front camera wasn't working properly.

She posted the footage on social media and was told by users the men were also spotted in the nearby Tesco causing issues.

The carer, who comes from Gravesend, added: "One of them was shirtless and they looked out of it on drugs or drink.

"I’m just glad my four-year-old daughter wasn’t in the car as I had just dropped her to nursery."

Lou has reported the matter to the police and is keen to warn other motorists in that area to be on their guard.

However, in a twist to the incident – which happened at around 9.30am on Wednesday – it has been suggested it may be linked to a major emergency services response soon after.

As reported by KentOnline, police, fire, ambulance and the coastguard were called to the Strood side of Rochester Bridge to reports a "distressed" man was in the water.

He was pulled out and placed in the the care of paramedics who then took him to hospital.

The coastguard helicopter was scambled from Lydd to join in the rescue.

Lou has been told the man concerned was possibly a member of the trio who stopped her.

Kent Police has been approached for comment on the car incident and whether it is linked to the river rescue.

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