A MAN was slashed by two axe wielding robbers for the sake of a packet of cigarettes and a mobile phone.

The victim, aged in his 30s, was walking home from the station when he was approached by two men carrying axes in the underpass close to Dominos Pizza in Station Lane, Pitsea.

The robbers demanded money before one of them slashed him across the head and hands with an axe.

The victim fought back before giving up his mobile phone, cigarettes and lighter.

He fled to Dominos Pizza where staff called the emergency services.

The suspects fled the scene in a waiting getaway car- a dark coloured Ford Fiesta.

The victim was taken to Basildon Hospital with with concussion, a cut to one of his hands, and heavy bruising.

One of the suspects was a black man, aged about 26 or 27, very slim and about 6ft 3ins tall.

He had short black afro hair, a black goatee beard and wore a grey Nike tracksuit and Nike trainers.

The second suspect was a white man with olive skin, aged about 26 or 27, about 5ft 9ins tall and of medium build.

He wore a black Nike jacket, black jogging bottoms, Nike trainers and a black hat.

In the front passenger seat of the getaway car was a white girl, aged about 25 with dark hair pulled in to a bun.

In the drivers seat was a white man with olive skin, aged in his twenties with stubble. The victim thinks he was wearing a hat.

The incident happened at about at 7.50pm on Sunday, March 1.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Dc Robert Lewis on 101 or contact independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org