A pensioner was grabbed from behind and robbed for treasured wedding rings worth more than £1,000.

The 81-year-old was set upon by two men who dragged her into a bush as she walked across a playing field between Mersea Road and Holt Drive in Colchester at about 5pm.

She was held down as one of the men - said to have spiky hair - pulled a wedding ring, engagement ring, men's wedding ring and a ruby anniversary ring, from her fingers - bruising her wrists in the process.

They fled with their haul leaving the "shocked and shaken" woman to raise the alarm.

Police are now hunting the pair.

The jewellery stolen was distinctive: A ladies' yellow gold wedding ring which is inscribed on the inside with her husband's name and the date of their marriage; a yellow gold engagement ring in a flower shape with a centre diamond surrounded by six other diamonds; a men's yellow gold wedding ring which is inscribed with her name and the date of their marriage and a yellow gold ruby anniversary ring with a centre red ruby stone surrounded by yellow gold leaves The suspects were described as young white men, wearing white short-sleeved shirts about 5ft 6ins to 5ft 7ins tall.

Anyone with information about the robbery which happened at about on Tuesday is asked to call Det Sgt Cooper at Colchester CID on 01206 762212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.