Two friends who left their bikes chained to a bike rack returned to find them stolen.

The friends, a 24-year-old man and a 25-year-old man, had identical bikes described as TREK 7.5 FX mountain bikes, with black and red lines on the wheels and lights to the front and rear.

The bikes, valued at £700 each, were stolen from the High Street in Southend on Thursday, July 1.

One of the bikes was a year old and the other had been purchased that day. The men left their bikes at 4.50pm, when they returned at 5.20pm the bikes were gone.

Anyone with information is asked to call Pc 74267 Monk at Southend Police Station on 0300 333 4444.