Benfleet police are hunting a gang of youths who threatened two teenagers with a socket wrench and robbed them of more than £700 worth of goods.

The robbery took place in London Road, Hadleigh, where the two boys were walking in the direction of Southend when three youths in a light-coloured Ford Escort drove past.

The car stopped around a corner and three youths got out and started calling after the two boys.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: "On reaching and stopping them, one of the group produced a socket wrench and told them to hand over their phones and jewellery.

"The teenagers both lost their phones and several pieces of gold and silver jewellery."

One of the youths responsible was described as being white, aged about 16 years-old, of slim build, 5ft 10ins tall, with short scruffy light brown hair - he was wearing a white T-shirt.

A second youth, aged about 17, was black, of muscular build, with short black hair and side burns to his jaw bone.

He was around 6ft tall and wore dark Adidas tracksuit bottoms and a hooded grey zip up top with "Harlem" written on it.

A third youth was white, aged around 13-years-old and 5ft 1ins tall, with spiky dark blonde hair - he wore a greenish-grey tracksuit top and trousers.

Police have just released information about the incident, which took place at around 8.50pm on Sunday July 14.

If you can help the investigation, call PC Claire Taylor at Benfleet police station on 01268 756221.

Published Friday August 9, 2002

Brought to you by the Evening Echo