A MAN “was attacked with a large metal pole” in front of shocked residents outside a supermarket, according to reports.

Shocked Billericay residents have described seeing a violent attack break out outside Tesco Express at the Grange Parade of shops yesterday at roughly 3.15pm.

According to reports, the attacker was chased away by witnesses.

Police cordoned off the area and paramedics were seen treating the man for his injuries.

Essex Police have been unable to provide details at this stage, however residents said a large emergency service presence was in the area following the attack.

Selina York, who saw the aftermath of the incident while driving to get petrol, said: “It is absolutely shocking; it is so rare for something like this to happen here and you have people in the comments on social media saying they ‘want to move away’.

“I do think this is a one-off attack though, for it to be something of that extremity, and though shocking, it doesn’t make me want to move away from the town.

“I was at the petrol station when they were treating the man. They were working on him and police had cordoned the road.

“There were two ambulances, we couldn’t make out much more than that.”

Reports from social media claim that the attack began with a “dispute over coffee” in the Tesco before a man is reported to have “hit another man over the head” with a metal pole several times in the head, before driving away from the scene.

The incident attack is believed to have involved two grown men, with it taking placehappened just as pupils from nearby schools left for the day.

A witness said: “I saw a young man walking across the green and another man ran at him from the back hitting him with a pole or pipe.

“He continued to hit him while on the ground and was chased off by bystanders.”

Essex Police and East of England Ambulance Service have been approached for comment.

Call 101 with information.