A MASKED man armed with a pistol herded staff at a Travel Inn into an office before making off with more than £3,000.

The robbery took place shortly before 11.30pm on Monday when several members of staff at the Travel Inn, Castle Way, Leybourne, near West Malling, were leaving for the night.

As they were on their way out of the building, a white man wearing a crash helmet and armed with what looked like a pistol, demanded that they go back into a manager’s office. He then snatched the cash before running off.

The robber is described as aged between 34 and 45, chubby, with pale eyebrows, wearing a visor, waste length jacket and carrying a black and silver rucksack.

Anyone at the inn between 10pm and 11.45pm is asked to contact Maidstone and Malling Police on 01622 608140.