A MAN was threatened with a hammer when he was confronted by a group of men in his flat.

The 23-year-old victim was forced to hand over phones, a laptop and money, and the gang also took the keys to his BMW M3 car when he came face-to-face with two black men at his home in Walter Mead Close, off Epping Road, in Ongar.

The men - who drove off in the victim's silver-coloured car - were in their mid-20s. One was 6ft 2ins tall and the other about 5ft 5ins tall. Both spoke with east London accents.

A third man drove off in another BMW, which had been stolen earlier. It was later abandoned in Applegate, in Brentwood.

The victim was uninjured.

Anyone who saw the men hanging around the Walter Mead Close area, or who saw the BMW being abandoned following the incident which happened shortly after midnight on Friday, April 18, should ring Brentwood Police Station on 0300 333 4444.