THIS is the gang of masked robbers who held up a petrol station for £4,000 of cigarettes.

Detectives have released CCTV to try and identify the men who robbed the Jet Service Station, in Southend Road, Stanford-le-Hope.

It comes after six raiders burst into the store at 11pm on December 7 and threatened the staff inside.

They punched a male member of staff in the face before grabbing the cigarettes and £300 cash.

It is believed they arrived on foot and escaped over a wall at the back of the service station into Scratton Road.

PC Jenna Thompson, of Thurrock police, said: “Although these aren’t the clearest images, some of the clothing worn by the suspects is fairly distinctive.

“If you think you know who they are, we need to hear from you.”

The victim, a man in his 20s, suffered a small cut to his chin but was otherwise unharmed.

One of the suspects was wearing a grey hooded Adidas jacket and grey jogging bottoms with a white stripe.

A second man wore a jacket with 'Ed Hardy' on it.

In December, the Gazette revealed one of the victims had dropped a dish of curry and it is likely the robbers' clothing may have been splashed with the sauce.

Contact Thurrock CID target team on 0300 3334444 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.