TWO teenagers have been remanded in custody and charged over robberies involving imitation guns in Shoebury.

A 17-year-old appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court accused of robbery, blackmail and possession of an imitation firearm.

He is accused of being one of three males who took £8 from a teenager after showing him a gun in a bag. They demanded money and threatened to stab him on Saturday, September 21.

An application for bail was refused by chairman of the bench Colin Campbell and the teenager was remanded in custody to face trial at Basildon Crown Court on the week beginning October 14.

In another hearing,a15-year-old boy was accused of two counts of robbery and one of possessing an imitation firearm. He is accused of approaching two boys in Friars Park, before pointing a gun at them and taking their phones.

He was also remanded in custody to appear at Basildon Crown Court the week starting October 14.