A PAEDOPHILE hunter group snared an alleged sex offender during a sting in a street in Southend.

Saving Our Children Online, a self-proclaimed “child online protection team”, confronted a man in the city on Saturday afternoon, streaming the interaction live via their Facebook page.

The group made a series of accusations claiming the man had been speaking to a 13-year-old girl online.

The man continued to be questioned by the vigilantes before police arrived at the scene.

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The video has amassed tens of thouands of views on soicla media, receiving more than 3,000 comments and been shared by roughly 1,000 people already.

Essex Police has now confirmed a man was arrested in connection with the incident.

He has since been released on bail while enquiries continue.

A spokesman from Essex said: “Officers in our Police Online Investigation Team are currently investigating a report of a man attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child. 

“On Saturday, August 27, a 30-year-old man from Southend was arrested in connection with this investigation.

“He has since been released with bail conditions whilst enquiries continue.”

The exact location of the sting has not been given by the group for security reasons.

Martin Terry, Southend councillor responsible for public protection, was careful with his words due to the ongoing investigation in regards to this incident but urged parents to make sure their children are protected and stay safe online.

He said: “I ask and stress to parents to always take all the proper cautions around internet and mobile phone technology, such as parental controls on their children’s devices.

“These people are feeding of the vulnerability of children, and again ask parents to take all precautions and if they need any advice on this, it is available online with guidance around this sort of thing.

“As it is just awful, but sadly these people do exist in our society, so everyone needs be aware so they can help protect the children in our city and also across the country.”