Punters were left shocked and traumatised after being egged in a drive-by attack outside a town’s gay bar.

The occupants of the speeding vehicle also hurled obscenities at them as they stood on the pavement at The Ship Inn in Rochester High Street.

Police are investigating the attack which happened in the early hours of Sunday morning and have described it as a “hate crime”.

The victims, a man and a woman, had spent the night at the popular boozer at the Chatham/Intra end of the busy stretch of road.

The 25-year-old woman was waiting for her father to give her a lift to her Gillingham home when she was hit in the chest by an egg.

Rachel said: “It was like being struck with a hammer. This is just not an attack on me, but on the whole LGBT community.

“The worrying thing is we’ve had reports of water, now eggs, this could escalate.

“This stuff should not be happening in 2024.”

Rachel said her initial shock and trauma had now turned to anger.

Lee Dickens, 56, also from Gillingham, had gone outside to have a cigarette when he was also targeted.

The retired charity worker said: “I was just standing there minding my own business when I felt it strike my shoulder.

“It all happened so quickly. They sped off towards Star Hill. There were about two or three inside the car I think and they were shouting obscenities out the window.”

Lee said he was anxious about going out after being seriously attacked by football supporters many years ago.

He said: “I don’t feel safe, even during the day.

“But I look forward to going to the Ship and won’t let it put me off.

“I’m straight and I love the people that go there. It’s my magical place.”

Hillary Cooke from Medway Pride Community Organisation, has spoke out against the thuggish behaviour.

Ms Cooke believes increasingly right-wing political parties were encouraging and “emboldening” some to think it is acceptable to abuse people and throw things.

She said: “Sadly, their voice gets amplified in social media and mainstream media.”

But she stressed that it was a “small minority” and about 90 per cent condemned these actions.

She added: “This is is just not happening in the UK, but in Europe and the US and particularly aimed at the trans community.”

But Nathan Morgan, landlord of The Ship Inn, said he was convinced the attack was not aimed at them because it was a gay pub.

“Saturday night had been packed with punters who came along to see a drag show, the 41-year-old said. “As I understand they didn’t just target us that night.

“I don’t think it will put our customers off.

“It’s just youths being youths.”

“Of course, the police would describe it as a ‘hate crime’ like they do if the synagogue opposite is targeted.”

The incident at around closing time was witnessed by several others including a doorman.

It is believed the car involved was a dark-coloured hatchback which made several journeys between Star Hill in Rochester and Sun Pier, Chatham within minutes.

A police spokesman said: “Kent Police is investigating a report of assault where it was alleged that between 12.55 am and 1.04 am on Sunday 28 July 2024 eggs and water were thrown by people inside a car as it drove past a pub in Rochester High Street.

“The items are reported to have landed on two people and the incident is being treated as a hate crime.”

Inquiries are ongoing.