A SHOPKEEPER was pushed against the wall by two robbers who stole £1,000.

The man, who did not want to be named, had just opened up shortly after 9am on Sunday when two assailants wearing crash helmets stormed into Mya’s newsagent in Crouch Street, Colchester.

They pushed the 57-year-old aside, ordered him to stay where he was, and demanded money.

The owner said he was threatened with an unseen weapon, so put up no fight, simply telling the robbers to take what they wanted and leave.

They escaped with the week’s takings, some bags of change and a large quantity of cigarettes.

Investigating Officer, DC Pete Burns, said: “We believe these two men had probably been watching the premises in the days and maybe weeks leading up to this attack.

“We will be looking through CCTV to see if they have been captured on camera, but in the meantime, we’re asking people to digest the descriptions and see if they register with anyone they know.

“The area would have been semi-deserted at the time. Two men walking around with crash helmets were going to stand out. We’re asking for any witnesses to also contact us.”

The assailants are both white and in their twenties. One was described as being thin and wore a black T-shirt which showed off tattoos on both arms. He had a black and blue helmet.

His accomplice was muscular, wore a grey T-shirt and had a black and yellow helmet. They made off in the direction of Balkerne Hill.

The 57-year-old shopkeeper was uninjured, but is recovering from shock.

Anyone with information in connection with this robbery is urged to contact detectives at Colchester police station on 0300 3334444.