A 20-YEAR-old man was targeted by robbers who stole his car at gunpoint outside his Loughton home.

The man had pulled up outside his home in Willingale Road shortly before 8pm on Wednesday, February 7, when another black VW Golf parked opposite him. Two men got out of the five-door new-style car before one of them held a silver handgun to the victim's neck, forcing him to drop the car keys.

Police said the accomplice picked up the keys and drove off in the Golf, which was followed by the assailants' Golf.

Detectives are examining CCTV footage in a bid to identify the attackers and their car.

Investigating officer Detective Constable John Brennan said: "This man had just driven from a nearby petrol station and had just passed Sainsbury so we're looking to speak to anyone who may have seen two black Golfs travelling together in the area on that Wednesday night.

"We believe the assailant targeted this man and would have driven around the residential area before the attack. In addition we're hoping someone might recognise the attackers from the descriptions or even tell us the location of the stolen car from the reasonably memorable registration number."

The registration number of the stolen car is EF56 SKU.

The gunman was black, believed to be in his late teens, about 5ft 8ins tall and slim. He was wearing a black woolly hat and black coat. The accomplice who stole the car was white, in his late teens, 6ft 1ins tall with light brown short hair. He was clean shaven.

The victim was unable to give the descriptions of a third person who remained in the assailants' car.

Both cars were driven off at high speed towards Loughton Broadway and Debden Station. Police carried out a search of the area but to no avail.

The victim suffered a minor injury to his neck but did not require medical treatment.

Anyone with any information should ring Harlow Police Station on 01279 641212.