A man has been charged following an armed robbery at a bank in Northfleet.

Police were called to Lloyds TSB in Perry Street at about 9.30am on Friday morning after a man reportedly went into the branch, demanded money and left.

A handgun, believed to be an air weapon, and an amount of cash dropped following the robbery have been recovered.

Gary McMeekin was arrested in Grove Road, Strood, at 3.50pm the same afternoon.

McMeekin, 35, of Kingswear Gardens, Strood, has been charged with eight armed robberies at banks and bookmakers across north Kent since November 29 last year.

A second man - Robert Blackburn, 30, of Copperhouse Road, in Rochester -was arrested earlier the same day in Watling Street, Strood, in connection with two armed robberies; the one at Perry Street, the other at Nationwide Building Society, in Strood, on March 25.

The pair are in custody at North Kent Police Station and due before Medway magistrates this morning (Monday, April 12).

For the full story see this week's Gravesend Messenger, out on Thursday.