A THURROCK man was punched in the face and threatened with a knife during a terrifying robbery.

The 21-year-old man, from Corringham, had finished work and was walking through Basildon's Gloucester Park, near the athletics track, when he was attacked.

Two men confronted him, one of whom punched him in the face and knocked him to the floor.

The robbers then held a knife to his face and ordered him to hand over his mobile phone.

The terrified victim handed them his £200 Sony Ericsson phone and the robbers fled.

Bill Stock, of Basildon police, said: "This was a violent attack on a man making his way home from work. Fortunately, he was not seriously injured.

"But given that his attackers had a knife, we would ask anyone who knows who they are, or saw them in the park in the moments leading up to the attack, to contact us."

The first robber was Afro-Carribean, aged 18 to 19, 5ft 8ins tall, slim and clean shaven. He wore a Nike blue or black hoodie, with lines across the front, and dark bottoms.

His accomplice was white, also aged 18 to 19, around 5ft 8ins tall, stocky, with cropped brown hair.

Witnesses to the robbery, at about 4.30am on Wednesday, are asked to contact police at Basildon on 01268 532212, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.