DETECTIVES are linking two brutal robberies in Billericay in which a man was assaulted and a woman punched in the head and pushed to the ground.

The first incident happened in Alyssum Walk at 6.20pm on Friday when a 40-year-old woman was approached by a bare-chested man, who viciously attacked her, knocking her to the floor before running off with some cash.

The second robbery took place at 11.20pm on Friday when a 23-year-old man and a 19-year-old woman were attacked by two men as they walked through Lake Meadows Park.

The man was assaulted and the woman robbed of a small sum of cash.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "The victims did not need hospital treatment but these were very nasty, violent robberies in which only a small amount of money was taken.

"We believe these two incidents are linked and would urge anyone with information to call us."

The suspect in the first robbery was a stocky white male, aged in his late 20s or early 30s, with no top on, blue jogging bottoms and white trainers.

In the second incident one of the suspects was described as a stocky white male in his late 20s or early 30s, wearing dark trousers and a white shirt. There was no description of the second suspect.

Anyone with information should call Det Con Jamie Holberton at Laindon CID on 01268 410101.