BUILDING equipment worth almost £2,500 was stolen when three men threatened to batter two Leyton builders with a shovel.

A 22-year-old man and 39-year-old man were transporting hire equipment, including a disc saw and diesel hydraulic breaker worth £2,000, in their Ford Transit van through Leyton at around 2pm on Tuesday, January 13.

They were followed by the robbers who were driving a similar white Ford Transit van, registration number J359 JMH. The men tried to talk to them while waiting at traffic lights and continued to follow the builders for 15 minutes.

At another junction opposite New Spitalfields Market in Ruckholt Road, two of the robbers jumped out of their van and threatened to hit the builders with a spade. One said: "You've done it now, if you call the police I'll shoot you."

He began banging the back of the van with the shovel. The robbers opened the doors and loaded equipment from the back of the transport vehicle into their own van before speeding off.

The three men are all said to be around 34, of scruffy appearance, dressed in casual builders' clothing and at least one had an Irish accent.

Anyone with information should contact Leyton police 8529 8666.