DETECTIVES are searching for three men in relation to two robberies... during one of which a man was kidnapped.

During the first incident, a man in his 60s was walking along Southend High Street towards the seafront at around 9.20pm on November 25, 2018 when a group of men approached him from behind.

He was struck to the head and was forced to hand over his bank card and pin.

The victim was then assaulted again and left with a broken leg.

The suspects made off with his bag, bank cards, and cash.

Two days later, at around 9pm, a 19 year-old man was walking along Chichester Road when a group of armed men approached him from behind, grabbed him, and showed him a knife.

The crooks stole the teenagers wallet and mobile phone and forced the victim into a black Ford Focus where he saw a woman sitting in the front seat.

His head was covered with a jacket and he was driven around for several hours before stopping at a Co-op in Grays where one of the men withdrew money from an ATM.

He was finally let out of the car at a taxi rank in Grays at around 12.30am on November 28.

Bank statements later showed a three-figure sums of cash were withdrawn from ATMs in Southend and Grays.

In total thousands of pounds was stolen from the victim.

The stolen bank cards were subsequently used in Shoreditch, Hackney, and Rainham and police believe the people responsible may be from the London area.

Police have exhausted all other lines of enquiry which is they are asking for help from the public.

If you recognise these men or have any information about who they are please call us on 101 quoting the crime reference numbers 42/172586/18 and 42/173760/18.

Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.