THREE men armed with knives who attempted to break into a home in South Stifford this morning (Saturday, 4 November) were quickly arrested.

Police received a call shortly before 7am reporting that three men were attempting to break into a property on Porter Close, Grays.

The suspects were seen to be holding knives and attempted to kick down the front door before running away.

Officers arrived quickly to carry out searches in the area.

Two men were arrested close to the scene on suspicion of attempted burglary and possession of an offensive weapon. A third man was located hiding under a car nearby and was also arrested.

The men remain in custody.

Chief Inspector Tina Cooper said "Our officers acted quickly to facilitate these arrests and ensure the safety of those in the house.

"Investigating burglaries remains one of our top priorities in Essex.

"This is a great example of the work our officers do every day to respond to incidents in order to catch criminals and keep people safe."