A SECOND woman has been held up at gunpoint by a masked robber in Colchester.

Police are appealing for students to take care while walking home at night and in the early hours following two robberies in Salary Brook Trail over the last week. 

Both incidents took place on the same trail where student Nahid Almanea, 31, was murdered by then 15-year-old schoolboy James Fairweather in 2014.

The first robbery happened on Friday, February 17 between 3.15am and 3.30am near to the first entrance of Wheeler Close. 

A 19-year-old victim was approached from behind by a man wearing a balaclava who had a firearm and demanded her purse. 

The victim did not have any money on her and he made off on foot. 

The second victim was a woman in her 20s, who was walking along the Salary Brook Trail following an event at the University of Essex at around 4.15am on Saturday, February 18 when she was approached by a man wearing a balaclava.

The man presented a firearm and demanded money. He took a two-figure sum of cash and made off on foot.

The man officers would like to speak to in connection with both these incidents is described as white, of slim build and between 5ft10ins and 6ft tall. 

Police are urging anyone with any information to contact Dc Danielle Markoutsis at Colchester Police Station on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555.