Detectives were today hunting a mugger aged about eight years old who stole cash from an 11-year-old schoolboy.

The youngster and two other boys, aged about 13, pounced on their victim as he walked through the park at Brandon Groves in South Ockendon.

They snatched his wallet, removed £5 from it and gave it back, before running off towards Quince Tree Close.

Detectives have now launched a hunt for the thieves in a bid to stop them striking again.

Det Insp Terry Geraghty of Grays police said: "We are obviously concerned that children, particularly those who may be as young as eight years old, are intimidating other children into giving over their possessions. We need to find out who they are to curb this before it becomes a problem.''

Two of the boys wore black bomber jackets. The eight-year-old had curly ginger hair.

One of the other thieves had an old style bike, had brown curly curtain-style hair and wore a grey sweatshirt and white trainers. The third youngster had a skinhead haircut, smoked a cigarette and had a pierced ear.

The incident happened at about 5.25pm on Sunday.

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