CHAIRS were hurled across the food court at Basildon’s Eastgate Shopping Centre as a huge brawl broke out, eyewitnesses say.

Shocked shoppers stepped in to prevent chaos after the fight broke out on the second floor of the shopping centre on Tuesday evening.

Witnesses took to social media to report “chairs being hurled”and “shouting” and “swearing” as two groups of teenagers clashed.

Eastgate Shopping Centre bosses have confirmed that an incident took place and that police and security escorted the teenagers out of the shopping centre.

Witnesses say other onlookers were left frightened by the incident that they described as “absolutely disgusting.”

A 36-year-old mother, who witnessed the incident, said: “A gang of seven young men held another hostage, forced him to sit down and surrounded him.

“He was shaking and it was quite scary. They also beat another young man who managed to get away.

“I think they wanted to rob them and wanted to take his hat.

“I think it’s absolutely disgusting and I don’t want my children going there.

“I will not let me son go there alone at all.”

Essex Police has been contacted for comment on the incident.

A spokesman for the Eastgate Centre said: “There was an incident and an issue with kids in the food terrace, it lasted a short while and they were removed by police and security.”

Andrew Baggott, Tory leader of Basildon Council, said: “Any sort of incident like this is of concern for anyone in that sort of situation.

“We do not want to deter people from coming to the Eastgate or Basildon Town Centre.

“This incident would have been upsetting for people in the area at the time.

“These sort of things do happen but I want to reassure people that on the whole the majority of people in Basildon are civilised, normal people but we do get these thing.

“The key thing is how they are dealt with it and it sounds like police and the centre security acted quickly and in the right way.

“People can walk through the town centre safely and it’s a relaxed atmosphere. We do not want Basildon to be like the wild west and it is far from that.”

Anyone with any information should call Essex Police 101