A MAN was sprayed with an “unknown substance” in the middle of a street in broad daylight, leaving the community fearing it was a random attack.

In the shocking incident near the Oysterfleet hotel, restaurant and bar on Knightswick Road, Canvey, the man was left hurt after being covered in the as yet unnamed substance.

The victim’s face was then “doused” in water by fire crews, after being found “concious and breathing” at the scene on Sunday afternoon, at around 2.20pm.

The community has been left reeling after what is feared to be a random attack.

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John Anderson, councillor for the Canvey Central ward, said: “For this to happen in broad daylight is absolutely horrible.

“I really hope this wasn’t a random attack, but the police need to get to the bottom of whether this is planned or not.

“They need to catch those responsible.

“We need this to be investigated fully.

“I can’t remember anything like this happening before here, let alone in the middle of the day.

“I haven’t got any concerns about rising crime here on Canvey, or crimes of this nature.”

The Oysterfleet insisted the attack “had nothing to do with them.”

Neither the victim or the attacker had come from the venue, a member of staff told the Echo.

Peter May, councillor of the Canvey Central ward, added: “It’s terrible.

“We don’t want anything like this happening here.

“I just hope the man involved is okay, and whoever is responsible caught.”

The nature of the substance has yet to be confirmed.

A spokesman from the Essex Fire service, said: “We were called to reports to a man being sprayed with an unknown substance in Knightswick Road, Canvey, on Sunday at 2.18pm.

“On-call firefighters from Canvey attended and washed the casualty’s face with water.

“The crew left the man, who was conscious and breathing, in the care of the Ambulance Service at 2.34pm.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We were called at around 2.12pm by ambulance colleagues on Sunday 10 October following a report of a man injured at Knightwicks Road, Canvey Island.

“It was reported that a man, 20s, had an unknown substance splashed in his face.

“He was taken to hospital for treatment.

“Enquiries continue.”

The East of England Ambulance Service would not comment.