POLICE hunting the £53million Securitas robbers are continuing to question five of the 12 suspects arrested as part of the inquiry.

Detectives have been given a further 24 hours by magistrates to question the four men and one woman.

Police have also carried out a reconstruction of the moments when Colin Dixon, manager of the Securitas depot, was taken hostage by the robbers.

In another part of the investigation police have carried out roadside checks in various spots in the county asking motortists if they have information which could help solve the crime.

More than 600 vehicles were stopped during the operation on Tuesday night, one week on from Britain’s biggest cash robbery.

Assistant Chief Constable Adrian Leppard said: "I am very encouraged by the response from members of the public."

The road checks were held at four sites at various times at Mereworth Road, near Tonbridge, Beltinge Road at its junction with Hadleigh Gardens, Herne Bay, Brenley Lane, off Brenley Corner roundabout, Faversham, and Vale Rise at Tonbridge, near the Securitas depot.

Police also handed out leaflets containing the two incident room hotline numbers 01622 652361 and 01622 652366.

Specialist police units and dog teams are still carrying out investigations at farmland at Chart Hill Road, Staplehurst, near Maidstone.

Underwater divers, specialist search teams and vehicle recovery units have been working at the farm buildings and surrounding fields.

Mr Dixon, from Herne Bay, and his wife and nine-year-old young son were kidnapped last Tuesday before the gang of robbers got away with the huge haul.

The white Renault Midlum truck used in the robbery is being examined by forensic experts after being recovered in Kent. Police have not discclosed where it was discovered.

The lorry was used to load the money at the Securitas depot and is also believed to have been used to dump money crates in fields at the top of Detling Hill near Thurnham.