Gunmen's heist at Thurrock services

The robbery happened just after midnight on Thursday, March 15 when three men wearing stockings over their heads and armed with handguns and a hatchet, entered the restaurant area of the service station.

One held a gun to the head of a 32-year-old member of staff and forced him to take the cash from the safe.

The frightened worker handed over the £2,620 contents of the safe in a red rucksack with the word "Liverpool" on it. The raiders then made their getaway, one using a mountain bike, which was later found abandoned.

Acting insp Mark Rayner urged witnesses to come forward.

He said: "To be confronted by robbers armed with guns and a hatchet and to then be threatened at gunpoint must have been terrifying for the victim.

"These robbers are dangerous and we would urge anyone who might know who they are to contact us immediately so we can take them off the streets."

A spokesman for Moto Services added: "Our employee is very shaken and still in shock as you would be if you were threatened at gunpoint.

"We would ask anyone who knows anything or saw anyone in the area acting suspiciously to contact police."

Investigating Officer DC Nick Phillips said: "This was a well-calculated attack, planned for some time.

"We need particular information about their getaway route. These assailants need to be arrested quickly. This was a harrowing ordeal for the member of staff."

The robbers were all black and aged between 20 to 25.

The raider who held the gun to the victim's head was 5ft 7ins, of medium build and wore a dark hoodie.

His accomplice, the second gun man, was 5ft 7ins tall, also of medium build and wore dark clothing. The third man, armed with the hatchet, was 6ft 1ins tall, of slim build and wore dark clothing.

Anyone with information about the robbery, which happened at 12.15am on Thursday, March 15, can contact police at Grays on 01375 391212 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.