A MILKMAN was beaten over the head by an armed assailant in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The victim was in his milk van in Willow Close, in Leigh, at 3.30am when he was approached by a man wearing a crash helmet.

The attacker, who was carrying a silver gun, demanded the milkman hand over money and, when the victim refused, hit him on the head before running off.

The delivery man was not injured in the attack but was left shaken.

The suspect is described as being around 5ft 8ins tall, wearing a white jumper and a crash helmet with graffiti style writing on it.

Anybody with any information about this incident should contact Southend CID on Essex Police 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.