Appeal over van used by robbers

The van was found abandoned in Northbourne Road, Clacton

Detectives investigating an armed robbery in Essex have released pictures of a blue van used by the robbers.

Essex Police have appealed for anyone who saw the Ford Transit van being driven from the scene of the robbery in Station Road, Clacton, to come forward.

A police spokeswoman said it is thought the van had earlier been driven through the Dunmow and Stansted areas.

Two men armed with a shotgun robbed a security guard delivering a cash box to an HSBC branch on Tuesday.

The spokeswoman said the men escaped with "a substantial sum of money".

They were seen leaving the area in the van, index W244 SBM, which was driven by a third man.

It was later found abandoned in Northbourne Road, Clacton.

The pair who confronted the security guard were both white.

One was aged between 30 and 40, with a stocky build and about 5ft 9in tall (1.75m). He was wearing dark gloves, a woollen hat, a blue jacket and faded denim jeans.

The second was about 5ft 8in (1.73m) and was wearing a dark woollen hat, a dark waist-length jacket and light-coloured jeans.

Police said the van had a darker blue patch on its bonnet and black painted wheel arches.