An armed gang beat a man with baseball bats and bladed weapons after chasing him into a Southfleet pub.

Police say the 43-year-old man had run into the Ship Inn in Red Street, at about 4.30pm on Saturday, in an effort to escape the gang of up to 10 men.

The victim attempted to hide behind the bar but was repeatedly struck and suffered a deep stab wound to one of his hands.

Nobody else who was in the pub at the time was injured, and the group left the scene before police arrived.

Chief Inspector Gary Woodward of Kent Police said: "This appears to have been a pre-meditated attack by people known to the victim, and which unfortunately ended up in a pub where none of those involved had been drinking.

"We believe it to be an isolated attack and I would like to reassure the general public that incidents of this nature are rare" - Chief Insp Gary Woodward

"This was a frightening incident for the Ship’s other guests to have experienced, and we have already spoken to a number of them as well as to the pub’s staff to establish exactly what happened and to try to identify those responsible.

"We believe it to be an isolated attack and I would like to reassure the general public that incidents of this nature are rare."

Anyone with information is urged to call the appeal line on 01474 366149 quoting reference 10-0858. Alternatively call Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.