POLICE are hunting for a gang believed to be responsible for burglaries in Southend.

Witnesses have described four people who they spotted acting suspiciously near the scene of a break-in in Westcliff Park Drive, Westcliff.

It happened at some point between April 22 and May 12 when the back door of the unoccupied house was forced. A steel cooker and a white washing machine worth about £250 were stolen from inside.

The people seen lurking in the area include a white man aged about 40. He was about 5ft 11ins tall with grey short hair, and a slurred voice. The second is a white man aged about 30, of muscular build with short dark hair. The next is a white man who was tall and of large build, with broad shoulders, who was wearing a hoody at the time. Finally, there was a white woman in her early twenties who was short and of petite build, with long blonde hair. The group were seen in a car.

The investigating officer, PC Reece Brent, said: “I am hoping that the collective descriptions of this group will ring some bells with anyone who knows them. It is possible that they are responsible for other burglaries in our area so I am keen for any information which could help me to identify them. If you know who they are, or have seen them hanging around elsewhere, then please let me know.”

PC Brent can be contacted at Southend police station on 0300 3334444.