Three men have been charged following a knife-point robbery at a Clacton Co-op store.

Police were called to the Co-op store in Coopers Lane at around 1pm on Tuesday after men entered the store with knives and demanded money. They left the store with a three figure sum of cash but police quickly recovered the money.

Five men were arrested nearby. Two of these were later released from police custody without charge.

Darren Hughes, 44, of Vauxhall Avenue in Clacton and Keith Palfreman, 37, of Gorse Way in Clacton have been charged with robbery and threatening a person with a knife. Daryl Zupp-Johnson, 38, of Talbot Avenue in Clacton has been charged with robbery and burglary.

All will appear before magistrates in Colchester this morning, (Thursday October 29).