LONDON, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- More than 25 million pounds (43 million U.S. dollars) in cash were stolen by armed robbers from a depot of a security company in Kent, southeast England, the Bank of England confirmed on Wednesday evening.

    The raid at the Securitas premises was carried out by at least six men who tied up 15 staff members on duty at the time, a Securitas spokesman said.

    "A substantial amount of money running into millions of pounds"had been taken, he said. The exact figure would only be known oncea complete audit of the site had been carried out.

    The manager of the company, his wife and son were kidnapped by armed robbers posing as police.

    At about 0100 GMT on Wednesday, the manager, threatened by the robbers that being uncooperative might endanger his families, was taken by a car to the Securitas depot where the raid was carried out.

    The staff who had been tied up managed to raise the alarm aboutan hour later. The staff, the manager and his wife and son were not injured in the robbery.

    Police are appealing for information from anyone who may have seen the manager's silver Nissan, or a Volvo or similar vehicle meeting up with a white van.

    They also want to trace a 7.5 tonne truck which was used in therobbery. Enditem