POLICE are trying to track a gang of armed robbers who stole £15,000-worth of lager from a lorry in Purfleet last week.

The thieves set-upon two lorry drivers parked in Russell Transport, on the Purfleet Industrial Estate, at around 11pm last Thursday night, stringing them up and pointing a gun to their heads.

The trio then stole the keys of one driver and made off with his van which was choc-full of Fosters lager.

The lorry was found dumped in Coppen Road, Dagenham, early on Friday morning - but all the beer had gone.

Investigating officer Dc Paul O'Callaghan said: "It does appear from our initial inquiries that this was a targeted attack on the beer lorry. The two lorry drivers must have gone through quite an ordeal as they had guns held to their faces in order to force them to divulge relevant information.

"Although the alcohol has gone we recovered the lorry and we are in the process of conducting a series of forensic tests in order to see if the thieves have left behind any clues that would lead to their identification.

"We will also be examining CCTV footage to establish the exact sequence of events."

Dc O'Callaghan added that he was keen to speak to anyone who saw any suspicious people loitering around the Purfleet Industrial Park on the night in question or the Coppen Road area of Dagenham last Friday morning, which is where the lorry was recovered from.

The gunman is described as black 5'8, of slim build and wearing a grey hoodie. His first accomplice was white with a shaven head and the third man was white, of slim build and wearing a silver track suit.

Anyone with information should contact investigating officers at Grays Police Station on 01375 391212.