A shop owner has described the moment his shop was the victim of a knife point robbery for the second time in four years.

St John's Mini Market in Sittingbourne was targeted by three masked men at around 7pm on January 16 who allegedly took more than £4,000 worth of goods.

Shop owner Sekar Geyasekaran detailed the moment a member of staff was grabbed and chucked to the floor at the St John's Avenue store before having a "long knife" put to his neck.

The second member of staff was also threatened before cigarettes, alcohol and £1,200 in cash was taken.

Mr Geyasekaran has owned the store since 2016 and it was the subject of a similar knife point robbery in 2017. Nobody was found in connection with the robbery.

The 41-year-old said: "The group of young men parked round the back and came in and grabbed my staff member and chucked him to the ground while the others took loads of things.

"My staff are getting on with things now but it was really scary for them. They smashed one of my £800 freezer doors when they were leaving.

'It's upsetting and annoying because it will affect me and the business.'

"One of the worst parts was it was only 7pm, so was quite early. There were people waiting outside the chip shop next door who saw it all happen.

"It' hard to tell who they were or what they look like because they were wearing masks and we could only see their eyes.

"It's upsetting and annoying because it will affect me and the business. It's my premium which will shoot up from this."

Investigating officer PC Harry Groves said: "While investigators are completing inquiries in the area, including the examination of CCTV footage, we are appealing for witnesses who may have seen the incident or saw somebody acting suspiciously, to contact us."

One of the suspects was wearing a black coat, light gloves, black tracksuit bottoms with a white stripe and black trainers. He was carrying a green bag and had a black face mask.

The second was wearing a blue coat with a grey hooded top underneath with gloves, a black hat, grey joggers and black trainers. He was wearing a blue surgical face mask.

The third suspect was wearing a dark coat with grey joggers, dark trainers, a dark woollen hat and a blue surgical face mask. He was also wearing black and orange gloves.

Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is urged to call the appeal line on 01795 419119, quoting crime reference 46/8283/21.

You can also contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111 or using the anonymous online form on their website.

Read more: All the latest news from Sittingbourne