Two robbers, one brandishing a handgun, were scared off when post office staff resisted during an armed raid at a village near East Tilbury.

An Essex Police spokesman said the aborted raid happened at the Post Office and General Stores shop in East Tilbury Road, Linford, at about 1pm yesterday.

Two men, one armed with a handgun, entered the store and threatened two members of staff, one man and one woman.

But the would-be robbers fled after the man pushed one of the robbers in the chest, causing him to fall over.

The two suspects ran out of the shop, turned right, and then cut down a nearby alley towards Devonshire Road.

Officers said they believed the men then escaped by car, although no sightings of a vehicle have yet been reported.

Both men were black, and wore dark clothing. At least one wore a balaclava while he was in the shop. The man with the gun wore dark glasses and had long dark curly hair.

The shop workers were shocked but largely unhurt in the incident, although the man who pushed one of the suspects suffered a minor cut to his face in the scuffle with the robber.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact CID at Tilbury on 01375 851212 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

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