A GANG of five, including two women wearing burkas, assaulted a member of staff during an attempted robbery.

Police are appealing for witnesses to the incident at Tylers Green Store in Vicarage Lane, North Weald, which happened shortly before 4pm yesterday (November 12).

The gang of three men and two women assaulted the staff member and tried to open the cash register, but were prevented from taking any cash.

After leaving the shop empty-handed, they drove off in a black car with heavily tinted windows, believed to be a Vauxhall Astra, on the A414 towards Harlow.

The three men all spoke with Eastern European accents. One is described as about 5ft 8in with dark hair and a black leather jacket. A second was about 5ft 10in with short dark hair and a grey jumper. There is no clear description of the third man.

Anyone with information about the incident should contact Loughton police station on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.