POLICE are appealing for witnesses to the attempted knifepoint robbery of a teenage boy in Westcliff.

A 14-year-old boy from Westcliff was approached by a man with what has been described as a steak knife at the junction of Brightwell Avenue and London Road at about 7.25pm on Friday, December 7.

The man asked for money at which point the victim ran away.

The suspect is described as white, 5ft 6ins tall, of medium build, aged in his mid 40s, wearing a black woolly hat, beige zip-up jacket, grey jeans and black shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dc Luke Dangerfield at Southend CID on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.