A man was robbed of his £840 coat in broad daylight by armed thieves.

Shortly before 1pm on Saturday (January 5) Nathan – who asked to be referred to by his first name only – and his brother were walking along Hemnall Street in Epping.

A car, described as a white Audi, pulled up in front of them and two men jumped out.

Dressed in a black coat with its hood up and a scarf covering his mouth, one of the men produced a large kitchen knife from his trousers and demanded Nathan’s coat.

The 30-year-old said: “I did not expect him to pull out a kitchen knife. The boy with the knife moved towards me and said 'give me your coat'.

“I didn’t think. I just gave it to him.

“I handed it over for the safety of my brother. If I was there on my own I don’t think I could have done it.”

After grabbing the coat along with a phone, money and cigarettes, the men fled in the Audi.

While he is glad to have escaped harm, Nathan is struggling with the loss of an expensive Christmas present and the emotional trauma of being mugged at knifepoint.

The Stanstead painter and decorator added: “It was a Christmas present and cost £840.

“I can’t replace that coat. I think they knew it was Canada Goose because they didn’t ask for my brother’s standard £30 coat.

“I had my jaw broken a few years ago by seven men with poles. I had to have my jaw wired shut for nine months.

“It has been going through my head since. I lived in Epping for 20 years and I never knew anything like this.

“It is definitely happening more now. There were no knives going around when I was younger. There were fistfights, but never any knives.”

One of the suspects is described as white, aged between 20 and 22 and 6ft tall, slim.

His accomplice was a black man, also aged between 20 and 22, slim to medium build, around 6ft tall and wore dark clothing with the hood up.

Witnesses can contact officers at Loughton CID on 101 or Crimestoppers 100 per cent anonymously on 0800 555 111.