A masked robber pushed a security guard to the ground and snatched the cashbox he was carrying before fleeing on the back of a motorbike.

The security guard had just picked up the money from the Abbey National and was standing outside the bank in Broadway, Pitsea, at 8.50pm on Friday when he was approached by the robber.

The robbery happened before similar incident at the Morrisons store in Hadleigh at 5.45pm on Saturday when a security guard was forced to hand over a cash box.

The Pitsea robber, who is described as white and of medium build and was wearing a balaclava, white crash helmet with orange stripes and a white or cream jacket, ran off towards Lloyds TSB where an accomplice was waiting on a scrambler-style bike.

The pair then sped off in the direction of Pitsea Leisure Centre.

There is no description of the second man involved.

Investigating officer Det Con Steve Wilson said the security guard was shaken by the incident but was unhurt.

Det Con Wilson also said officers would be viewing CCTV and he urged anyone who witnessed the incident or saw anything suspicious to come forward.

He added: "It was a Friday night and there would have been a lot of people milling about. It is also a bit of a parking area for people going to pubs."

Anyone with any information should contact Billericay CID on 01277 631 212.