Two bikes were stolen, and one biker was threatened by a gang of armed yobs, during a string of incidents which are suspected to be linked.

Officers arrested two men following the incidents.

A group armed with weapons threatened a biker in an attempt to steal the vehicle.

It happened on December 8, when the group of motorcyclists surrounded a lone biker at around 1.40pm.

They threatened the rider with weapons in an attempt to steal his motorbike as they rode down London Road in Stanford-le-Hope.

The rider was unharmed and managed to get away.

Just after 2.15pm, there was an attempt to steal a motorbike in Hoolyrood Gardens in Grays. A group fled after being disturbed by the owner of the bike.

Fifteen minutes later a Honda CBF 100 motorbike was stolen from St Peter’s Road in Grays.

Police are treating all of the incidents as linked.

Officers then followed the group to Chadwell Hill Road in Chadwell where a number of people decamped and left the scene on foot.

Two bikes, including a Honda CBF 100, were recovered from Chadwell Hill Road.

A 17-year-old boy and an 18-year-old man, both from Tilbury, were arrested in connection with the incident, and have since been released pending further enquiries.

Anyone who has not yet spoken to officers regarding these incidents, or who may have CCTV footage or dash cam footage from these routes still available from December 8, is asked to call Grays Local Policing Team on 101 quoting incident number 737 of 08/12.

You can also call Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or report through their website.