A man at a cash machine was robbed at gunpoint and knifepoint early on Thursday morning in Grays.

At around 6.30am the victim - a 54-year-old local man - had just withdrawn money from Barclays Bank in Lodge Lane.

As he returned to his car he was approached by a man in his 20s, demanding the money and threatening him with a gun and a machete.

The robber made off in a poorly maintained green Ford Fiesta car which, say police, had its indicator light flashing throughout the incident. He drove off towards Grays.

The robber is described as a "tanned" white man with a full, but short beard and short black hair. He was around 5ft 6ins tall and wearing a cream-coloured shirt and dark trouser, and spoke with a foreign accent.

Detectives are appealing for help in tracing the car which may have been in the Treacle Mine or Hogg Lane area of the town between 5.30am and 7.30am.

The robbery is the second outside Barclays in Lodge Lane in just over a week.

On Tuesday, October 9, at around 9.45am, a gunman pounced as two Securicor guards made a collection at the bank.

Anybody with information is asked to contact detectives at Grays on 01375 391212 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111

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