Two knifepoint robbery suspects were red dotted by police with a taser last night as they tried to run away.

Officers from Essex Police's operational support group (OSG) had just got food in Southend when a man reported to them he had been robbed at knifepoint.

Police saw the suspects running away and red dotted them before finding the stolen property and weapon used.

The pair have been arrested.

An Essex OSG spokesman said: "We had just got food when a male reported to us he had been robbed at knifepoint.

"We saw the suspects running away and red dotted them. We found the stolen property and the weapon used.

"Two arrested for robbery and off weapon. Right place right time."

A suspect is "red dotted" when a taser is pointed at them with the red dot laser sight active, so a red dot appears on the person it’s pointed at.

This is frequently used by officers as a warning to suspects.