The manager of an antique clock shop was punched to the ground after chasing a robber who snatched a £650 Mahogany mantle clock from his Westcliff shop.

Paul Williams suffered a black eye and bruising to his head after the robber turned and confronted him in an alleyway close to It's About Time in London Road.

Police have launched a hunt for the robber, described as white, aged 25, 5ft 8in tall and of medium build.

He had dark brown hair covered by a woolly hair and was wearing a half-length black zip-up jacket and black or dark blue jeans. They believe he may have had two accomplices as well but they did not enter the shop.

Mr Williams, 30, co-owner of the business, was recovering today but keen to keep the shop open. He said: "He came and grabbed the clock and then ran out.

"You never really know what the best thing is to do in those situations. Let him get away with it or give chase? So I went after him."

He followed the man down an alleyway next to the Southend Enterprise Training Centre on Wednesday afternoon.

As the robber attempted to climb over a fence he dropped the clock. But he then climbed back and confronted Mr Williams, punching him in the face and then punching him three more times as he lay on the ground.

Mr Williams said: "He didn't say a word. We were in a secluded area behind the shop and I guess he just thought he would come at me.

"I can't remember everything but I think he must have hit me with a right hook. The next thing I recall I was on the floor."

The robber then grabbed the clock back and ran off up London Road.

Det Con David Nash, of Leigh police, said: "This was a particularly brutal attack bearing in mind the victim was struck while on the ground."

Police said it was possible that two other men, seen waiting by a bus stop close to the shop during the incident, could be involved.

One of them was described as white, aged 24 or 25, 5ft 7in tall, of light to medium build. He had blond, straight hair in an 8in ponytail. There is no description for the third man.

If you can help police, call 01702 471212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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