A MAN was headbutted in the face and suffered a broken nose during a street attack in Pitsea in which two of his friends were also hurt.

Detectives have released these e-fits and are appealing for the public’s help to identify two suspects after a group of three men were approached by two men as they walked near the Chalvedon shops.

The pair robbed then robbed one of them of their iPhone.

This victim was head-butted in the face and suffered a broken nose. One of his friends was hit across the back of the head with a bottle and the other was punched in the face.

Both thieves were white and aged between 17 and 19. One was about 6ft tall, slim and had brown hair in a comb-over style.

He was wearing a white sports jacket with a red strip across the chest, dark bottoms and blue Adidas trainers.

The second man was about 5ft 10 tall, stocky with shaved hair. He was wearing a tight-fitting dark blue top with a pocket on the left chest and dark bottoms.

Police would like to hear from anyone who spotted these men in the Beambridge area at about 12.30am on Friday, August 30.

Investigating officer Det Con Andrew Rowley said: “This was a nasty attack which left one of the victims in need of surgery to his broken nose.

“I would urge people to look very closely at these e-fit images and contact us if they recognise the pictured men.”

Anyone with information should contact Det Con Rowley at Basildon CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.