TERRIFIED staff at a Lidl store were attacked as they tried to detain a suspected shoplifter, police say.

Police were called to Lidl, in Northwick Road, Canvey following the incident which saw workers at the store assaulted.

Officers say a man from London has been arrested in connection with theft, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon and drugs offences.

Councillors slammed the behaviour and said staff at shops and supermarkets must be respected.

Jay Blissett, Tory councillor for Canvey West, said: “I did see about the incident online and it’s not good at all. I can possibly understand people stealing out of desperation but not attacking staff or anything like that.

“The store staff are just doing their jobs and nobody deserves to be attacked like this. I think it’s totally out of order.

“I think Canvey people are mostly community minded and it’s a nice place to live. We don’t want to see anything like this happening.

“I hope the staff are doing ok and I will be popping in to check on them.”

Steven Cole, People’s Party deputy leader of Castle Point Council, said it could leave a lasting effect on the workers.

He said: “It’s dreadful and no worker should be subjected to this when they are just earning a living. We need tough sentences and I hope the person behind this get’s a suitable punishment.”

He said the staff could even consider leaving their jobs and police are facing these sort of things too often.

A spokesman for Essex Police’s Castle Point team said: “We arrested a 27-year-old man from London following an incident that occurred on October 21 at a store on Canvey.

“It is alleged that the man had attempted to steal from a store and was detained by staff, who were assaulted.

“The man was arrested on suspicion of theft, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possession of an offensive weapon and drugs offences. He has been interviewed and bailed with conditions whilst we continue our enquiries.”