Two young men are recovering after being sprayed in the face with a dangerous chemical, then kicked and punched.

Nothing was taken from the 19 and 20-year-old victims who were attacked as they walked home from a night out at the Kursaal in Southend.

As the friends approached the Woodgrange pub, Woodgrange Drive, Southend, they were attacked, sprayed in the face - possibly with CS gas - and then kicked and punched.

A spokesman for Southend police said: "This appears to have been an unprovoked attack. The incident happened at around 1.45am on Saturday when there would have been a lot of people around as they left the nearby clubs to go home."

One of the attackers was black, aged around 20 and 5ft 10in tall. He had short dark hair and was wearing a black three-quarter length coat and black trousers.

The other man was white, also aged around 20 and 6ft tall. He had brown short hair worn in a curtain style and a red bomber jacket.

If you can help call the crime management unit at Southend police on 01702 431212, reference C28.

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