A man was beaten and stabbed in a "frightening and pre meditated'" attack in a pub in Southfleet.

Kent Police said a gang of ten men beat a 43-year-old man who ran into the Ship Inn in Red Street to flee his attackers at about 4.30pm on Saturday, February 10.

The attackers were armed with baseball bats and "bladed" weapons, according to police.

The victim tried to hide behind the bar but was repeatedly beaten and suffered a deep stab wound to his hand.

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.

"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."

The gang fled the scene before police arrived and nobody else was injured during the attack.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to call 01474 366 149 quoting reference 10-0858. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.