Armed robbers carried out two terrifying raids while brandishing handguns at shop assistants.

Threshers off-licence in London Road, Westcliff, and Alldays in Spa Road, Hockley, were both targeted by two men who burst into the shops and demanded money.

In Threshers, opposite The Trading Rooms Pub, two men with black scarves around their faces entered the shop and demanded money from the till while one of the men pointed a small hand gun at a woman shop assistant at about 9pm.

Later, in Hockley, two men, also with black scarves around their faces, entered the Alldays and demanded money and a packet of cigarettes as one man pointed a small hand gun at the shop assistant at about 9.30pm.

This time the two men escaped in a stolen black Ford Orion heading towards Ashingdon.

In both incidents the men have been described as white and one about 6ft tall while the other was slightly shorter at about 5ft10."

Both were wearing dark Parka-style hooded coats with a fur trim and had black scarves covering their faces.

Police said they were aware of the similarities between the two incidents and although officers are working together they are being treated separately.

If you have any information about the robbery in Hockley please call police on 01268 775533 and for the robbery in Westcliff please call 01702 431212.