Two teenage boys have been robbed by two other boys who had a knife and claimed they had a bottle of acid.

The boys, both 15, were approached by two other boys in Marine Parade at the junction of Pier Hill at around 4.30pm on Friday, April 21.

The other boys showed the victims the handle of a knife in their trousers and claimed to have a bottle of acid on them before demanding money and making off with a two-figure sum of cash.

The robbers are both described as being 16 or 17 years-old.

One of them was white with tanned skin and wearing a grey tracksuit, while the other was black and wearing a red tracksuit with the hood up.

Anyone with any information about the incident or who saw the two suspects is asked to contact Dc Paul Ross at Southend police station on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.