ARMED robbers have held up two men at a bank.

Police said a security guard and an engineer were jumped by two men, one armed with a handgun, inside Barclays Bank, in Epping High Street, at around 6.30pm on Sunday (January 10).

The robbers threatened the two men, one aged 33 from Pitsea and one 47 from Ilford, for money and left with a large sum of cash.

Both robbers are described as tall, over 6ft, in their 20s, and with scarves covering their faces. One man was wearing a camouflage coloured jacket with the hood up, the other a black ski jacket with the hood up.

Detectives are appealing to members of the public who may have been in the area to try and remember if they saw these men hanging around before the robbery or saw them leave the bank, turning right toward Loughton.

DS Steve Ellis said: "Anyone who witnessed any of the incident or has any information on where the men went when they left the bank is asked to call detectives at Loughton CID on 0300 333 4444 or they can give information anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."