A SHOPKEEPER was forced to open a till and hand over cash in a robbery carried out by three young men at a Ramsgate newsagents. One of the men demanded the money in the raid on Martins in The Centre, Newington, at 5.30pm last night while another walked behind the counter and stole several packets of Bensons and Hedges cigarettes.

A third man stood in the doorway of the shop. Police are checking CCTV footage, and are appealing for anyone who was near the shop at the time to come forward.

A police spokeswoman said: “There is a bus stop right opposite the door of the shop, and flats nearby. We hope someone may have seen the robbery or these three men leaving the shop.”

All three men are white and in their late teens. The one who stole the money was about 6ft tall, and of medium build. He was wearing a scarf and gloves, a white baseball cap and a beige jacket.

The man who stole the cigarettes is also about 6ft tall, of average to stocky build. He was also wearing a scarf and gloves, a navy baseball cap and a navy jacket. The third man, who waited in the doorway was around 5ft 10in tall, and slim. He was wearing a white baseball cap and a navy jacket.