POLICE are turning their attention to potential eyewitnesses in the Horndon-on-the-Hill area that might have seen the robbery of a taxi driver.

A black cab driver had picked up five young men from Stratford’s Westfield at 1:30am on Sunday, January 12, dropping three off in Hornchurch before continuing into Essex.

The man had initially suggested that he then drove to Langdon Hills where he was threatened with violence by the remaining two passengers, but has now said that he dropped the two men off a short distance along the A128 from the Southend-bound A13 junction.

A police spokesman said: "These two men stole a three-figure sum of cash from the man after having enjoyed a night out in east London with their three other friends. We want to identify all five men, two as suspects and three as witnesses.

“We now also want to hear from any motorists or residents living near the junction of the A128 and Southend-bound A13 junction who saw this London black cab in the early hours of that Sunday morning.”

All five men are described as white and in their 20s. The cab driver, who is aged 36 and comes from Tower Hamlets in east London, was uninjured but is recovering from the shock of his trauma. No weapon was used in the attack.

Anyone with information in connection with this robbery is urged to contact detectives at Grays police station on 101.