A man who refused to hand over cash to a knife-wielding thug was lucky he wasn't stabbed, police said today.

The plucky 38-year-old refused to be intimidated by the two teenaged brutes when they pounced on him late at night.

One of the attackers pulled out a knife after the victim told the would-be robber "you must be joking" when he asked for cash.

The pair struck as the victim walked across the railway bridge in Riviera Drive, near Southend East station.

A spokesman for Southend police said: "The victim refused to hand over the money and the pair ran off towards Ambleside Drive empty-handed. He was lucky he wasn't injured."

Both men were aged around 18 and 5ft 8in to 5ft 10in tall.

The knifeman was wearing a cream baseball cap a dark coloured tracksuit top and cream jeans.

The other man was slim and was wearing dark trousers or jeans, a dark fleece top and baseball cap, jeans and white trainers.

If you witnessed the incident, which happened at 11.10pm on Monday call the crime management unit at Southend police on 01702 431212 quoting reference C69 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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