A MASKED man handed a 12-year-old girl chocolate containing a sharp metal blade while she was trick or treating, a mum says.

She told how the girl was walking along Leigh Broadway on Sunday, when the man approached her.

He handed her the chocolate, which was wrapped in a plastic wrapper, and she placed it among the rest of her collection, the mum said.

She added her daughter was later eating the chocolate and felt the metal on her tongue.

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The 42-year-old from Leigh, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “It wasn’t visible at all - it was a chunky bit of chocolate.

“She was at her dad’s at the time but when she called to tell me I felt physically sick.”

Her mum added: “She was walking up and down streets off the Broadway on Halloween night.

“She hadn’t knocked on a door this man was just outside a house in the street.

“It was wrapped in clear plastic hand tied with a string.”

“Whoever this was dishing these out in Leigh should be arrested as soon as possible.”

Essex Police have been contacted over the incident.

Martin Terry, Southend councillor in charge of community safety, said: “It’s absolutely horrendous.

“I can’t believe something like this has happened.

“I would urge parents to keep an eye on what their children are picking up while trick or treating.”

The mum added: “It’s scared my daughter to the point she doesn’t want to take part in Halloween again which has always been a big thing for us.

“It’s scared me to allow my daughter to go out in the evenings with her friends as we just can’t trust anyone.

“It should have been a way for the girls to have some fun but turned into a genuine nightmare, almost like a horror film.”

The incident after a night of Halloween chaos.

Up to 30 yobs launched fireworks at moving cars and inside a KFC restaurant in Benfleet on Sunday, just moments before a huge Halloween display was destroyed by teenagers with a knife in a front garden on Canvey.

An Essex Police spokesperson said: “If you or someone you know may have experienced something similar, please report it to us.

You can submit a report online at https://www.essex.police.uk or use the 'Live Chat' button to speak to an online operator between 7am-11pm.

You can also call us on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”