ARMED robbers today held up a village bank and may have escaped with a bag of cash.

Police officers, some of them armed, surrounded the Nat West bank, in Heath Road, Coxheath, near Maidstone, shortly after 11.30am following reports of hostages being held inside. But all the criminals had already fled the scene in a silver saloon, believed to be a Citroen.

No-one was injured in the raid. It is not yet known how much was stolen or how many robbers were involved.

Police are searching for the car. They are appealing for witnesses.