THE landlord of a north Essex pub is recovering after he was robbed at gunpoint as he took the takings to a post office. The incident happened at about 3pm yesterdayas the 41-year-old, who runs the Three Jays pub in Jaywick headed to the Crossways Post Office.

THE landlord of a north Essex pub is recovering after he was robbed at gunpoint as he took the takings to a post office.

The incident happened at about 3pm yesterdayas the 41-year-old, who runs the Three Jays pub in Jaywick headed to the Crossways Post Office.

Essex Police said the businessman was walking along Jaywick Lane when a silver or metallic grey coloured Land Rover pulled up alongside and a passenger then asked the landlord for directions.

The passenger then snatched a blue bag from the landlord and flashed a gun at him before driving off.

Police said last night that a "substantial" amount of cash had been taken by the robbers who drove into West Road towards Clacton.

A police spokesman said that at the time of the robbery behind the Land Rover there had been a white estate car, which may or not have been involved in the incident.

Police do not at this stage have detailed descriptions of the suspects but said that both men in the Land Rover were white, and that the passenger was wearing a cream coloured baseball cap.

Last night, staff at the post office said they had checked CCTV footage for signs of the incident, but it had not been captured.

At the Three Jays pub, staff said the landlord was unhurt but did not want to comment at this stage about the robbery.

Police have appealed for witnesses to the armed robbery.

They have asked anyone who saw the two cars in the area between noon and 3pm yesterdayor has any information about the land rover or the incident should contact Det Con Steve Jennings at Clacton CID on 01255 221312 or Crimestoppers on freephone 0800 555111.