ROBBERS threatened to shoot a shopkeeper unless he handed over cash.

The manager, who has not been named, was working at CSD Stores - an off licence in St Chad's Road, Tilbury - when the two crooks burst in.

They told him they had a gun and would use it unless he handed over cash from the till.

The victim gave the raiders £80 in cash before they fled.

Acting Insp Mark Rayner, of Basildon Police, said: "This incident was extremely frightening for the victim, who believed the robbers were in possession of a gun.

"While he did not actually see a weapon, the possiblity these robbers may have had one was very real for the victim.

"If there is anybody who recognises the men from the description or who knows anything about this robbery, we would urge them to contact us without delay."

The two male robbers are both described as black with local accents.

One was aged in his twenties, around 5ft 8ins tall, and wore a dark-coloured baseball cap, a dark tracksuit top and bottoms and a white T-shirt. His accomplice was around 5ft 6ins and wore a grey padded jacket and dark baggy tracksuit bottoms.