FOUR men are being hunted after two knife robberies were committed in Grays in a matter of minutes.

The first attack saw a young man walk in Grays Convenience Store, in Clarence Road, on Saturday, December 21 and threaten a staff member with a knife.

The employee handed over a two-figure sum of cash in coins, a bottle of alcohol and some cigarettes.

The assailant is described as white, in his early 20s, with short ginger hair and spoke with an Irish accent.

He was wearing blue jeans, a black woolly hat.

He was with an accomplice who was also ginger and approaching 50-years-old.

They both walked off towards the town centre.

The next attack was at Dhillons, on the High Street, when a man walked in and threatened a staff member with a knife, whilst demanding money.

The suspect is white, in his late teens, approximately 5ft 7ins tall, of skinny build, wearing grey jogging bottoms and a blue coat.

He may have been with an accomplice who is described as white and was wearing a light scarf and dark coat.

They rode off on mountain bikes towards the Charcoal Grill, empty-handed.

Anyone with information in connection with these two robberies is urged to contact detectives at Grays police station on 101.