PAEDOPHILE hunters snared a suspected sex offender during a sting in the centre of Southend.

Act Now, an organisation that “helps monitor and stop online predators”, confronted a man at Queens Road, in Southend, during a live stream on social media on Sunday.

The live stream showed the group quizzing and speaking to the man, near to the shop Toys ‘N’ Tuck in Southend, before he was arrested by police.

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The group questioned him and claimed he had “travelled from Harlow to Southend to meet what he believed to be a child”.

The video has been viewed more than 25,000 times, receiving almost 1,000 comments, as well as being shared almost 500 times.

Essex Police confirmed the man was arrested at the scene shortly before midday on Sunday.

A spokesman said: “We were called to Queens Road in Southend following reports of a man attempting to engage in sexual activity with a child.

“Officers attended and a man was arrested.

“Enquiries remain ongoing with our Police Online Investigation Team.”

In the video, the group claimed the man had been involved in “grooming and sexual chat” with an alleged 13-year-old.

Martin Terry, councillor responsible for public protection, has urged parents to make sure their children are safe and protected online.

He said: “I do have concerns with vigilante groups, as I far rather things like this are sorted through official channels.

“Sometimes evidence can be affected by what these people do, as there have been cases where people are misidentified, and subsequently become victims themselves.

“However, I understand what they are trying to achieve, and we do have a lot of children in Southend, and visiting Southend, and we want them to be safe.

“So, this is a concern.

“But I urge parents and those children around them to make sure they are safe.

“One thing in particular is how this grooming occurred, and so it is making sure children are safe online, and in media spaces.”