A man is recovering today after he was hit on the head and had fluid sprayed in his face in a vicious robbery.

Police were called just after 5.30pm yesterday after reports that an Esso service station staff member had been attacked in his car while leaving the Victoria Road premises.

The staff member was leaving the premises in his car when he was approached by a man who struck him on the head with a wooden object.

He then sprayed the man in the face with an ammonia-like substance and escaped with his briefcase.

The victim, aged 42, was taken to hospital but released after treatment.

An Essex Police spokeswoman said police want to hear from anyone who saw the incident or was in the nearby residential road known as Shrublands.

Any witnesses to the attack should call detectives at Chelmsford police on 01245 491491 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.