Mums whose schoolboy sons were robbed by a masked gang are now wary about letting them out.

The four friends, aged between 13 and 14, were targeted by up to eight older youths outside KFC in Strood.

The Strood Academy pupils, who were waiting for their order at Strood Retail Park on Sunday afternoon, were approached by a ring-leader and told to hand over money, designer pouch bags and AirPods earphones.

They feared the six black and two white men, who kept their hands in their pockets, might pull a knife on them.

After snatching their belongings, the gang fled over Rochester Bridge towards the railway station.

The victims, all badly shaken by the ordeal which lasted up to 10 minutes, then headed home on their bikes

Dana Bland, 32, whose son Aaron, 14, was among them, said: “You would think that by going out in a group and being in the town centre they would be safe together.

“But it’s not. Why should we be too frightened to let our children out? I want this to be a warning to other parents.

“It is terrible to think this can happen on your own doorstep. For all we know they could have had knives on them.”

Aaron had a grey Nike bag, cash and AirPods snatched from him - all of which were presents given on his birthday the day before.

Speaking from his Rochester home, he said: “It has made me very angry. The police need to sort it out.”

Two other mothers have spoken out about the incident.

'You would think that by going out in a group they would be safe together and being in the town centre they would be safe together,' mum Dana Bland

Strood resident Sarah, 45, whose 13-year-old son was targeted, said: “It’s cowardly, older boys picking on younger boys.

“They surrounded them and they had no chance.

“They wouldn’t take on boys of their own age.

“There was a stabbing at Chatham railway station the other day and it seems to be getting closer to home.

“You would have thought KFC would have been packed at the time, but these days perhaps people don’t want to take a risk.”

Another mum, who did not wish to be named, said: “It’s scary and getting out of control.

“There were people around but they were too scared to make a commotion.

“It’s a shame because we try and encourage our children to get out, away from their computer screens.

“It’s a dilemma and as a mum, I really don’t have a clue what to do.

“But I’m not letting him out at the moment. I’ve said his friends can come round the house from now on.”

Police say they have been informed and are looking into the matter. Spokesman Sally Smith said: “We are investigating following a report of a robbery in Commercial Road, Strood, at 5.21pm on Sunday."

Inquiries are ongoing and witnesses are asked to contact police, quoting 10-1197 on 01634 792209.

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