THREE men posing as police officers handcuffed and abducted two men after they were stopped in Brighton.

The victims, aged 24 and 44, were in a blue Vauxhall Corsa and drove into Park Close, Brighton.

They were followed in by a dark coloured BMW, which prevented them from leaving the close before three men got out of it.

They approached the Corsa and told the driver to get out for a drugs search.

Both men were handcuffed, forced into the back of the BMW and driven off.

A Sussex Police spokesman said: "They realised that their abductors were not police officers and one escaped from the car in Lewes Road soon after.

"The other man was driven around Brighton and released in the Ladies Mile Road area of Patcham a little later.

"Both sustained minor injuries."

"The three suspects were all wearing police-style stab vests."

The incident happened on Saturday, July 9 at around 10pm. Details of the incident have only today been released by detectices.

The suspects are described as two were white and one was of mixed race. One of the white men was in his 30s, 5' 8 - 5' 9", of medium build with grown out cropped style and a clear complexion. He spoke with a Scouse accent.

The mixed race man was in his late 30s to early 40s, about 5' 11", with a long face, jet black hair, dark sideburns and freckles on one cheek. He had a London accent. He was wearing beige three-quarter length combat shorts, a white long sleeve T-shirt and tight dark lycra matt gloves.

A third suspect drove the victims' car, which was found abandoned in Appledore Road just before 10.30pm.

Detectives are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed or have information about any aspect of the incident to come forward.

Those with information should email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk or call 101 quoting serial 1608 of July 9.

Alternatively contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via crimestoppers-uk.org