POLICE are at the scene of a robbery at a shop in Southchurch Road, Southend.

It happened shortly before 2.50pm today.

A man entered the newsagent on the junction with Southchurch Avenue, threatened a member of staff and assaulted him before making off with cash from the till.

The suspect is described as white, in his late 20s to early 20s, had dark coloured eyes, of skinny build and was wearing a black hooded top, beige cropped shorts, was carrying a white carrier bag and had scruffy dark hair with stubble and a beard.

Anybody with any information is asked to contact Essex Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.