DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses after a Newmarket man was beaten to the ground and robbed in a small Essex town.

DETECTIVES are appealing for witnesses after a Newmarket man was beaten to the ground and robbed in a small Essex town.

The attack happened at around 10pm last night in Brightingsea as the man was walking down Promenade Way.

The man, who was visiting a friend in the town but was on his own at the time of the attack, was approached from behind by two men.

They knocked the 41-year-old to the ground, grabbed his wallet f4om his pocket and then ran off.

Unfortunately as it was dark the victim did not get a good look at his two assailants, and so has not been able to provide police with a description of the men.

The man was not injured but suffered some grazing in the robbery.

Police said yesterday they had recovered his wallet - minus the small amount of cash he was carrying - and it would now be subject to forensic examination.

Officers have issued an appeal for anyone who might have been in the area and seen the two men.

Dc Claire Lukey from Clacton CID, who is investigating the robbery, said: "This is quite unusal in Brightlingsea which is generally a nice quiet town.

"I would appeal to anyone who was in the are near the swimming pool and beach huts and may have seen two men hanging around or saw the incident to contact me.

"Someone locally may know who is responsible and I would like them to contact me as I don't want this to happen to anyone else."

Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at Clacton CID on 0300 333 4444 or Crimestopppers.