A GANG of four yobs attempted to mug a woman during a terrifying incident in a Southend park, leaving her "petrified and shocked".

The victim has revealed how she was taking pictures in Southchurch Hall Gardens when the group approached her and aggressively started asking her "what she had on her".

On Tuesday, at roughly 4.45pm, she was walking through the park as she "reminisced about her mother" who recently passed away before being confronted. The victim, who has chosen to remain anonymous, started shouting frantically that she had nothing on her and began screaming for help.

The response startled the four youths, who quickly ran away from the scene just before police officers could arrive.

Describing the horrific incident, the woman said she was “very lucky” to leave without suffering any harm.

She said: “I was just taking pictures in the garden as I normally do and then I was approached by this gang of four youths who began to ask me what I had.

“I was shocked because it seemed like they were targeting me and it was like they expected me because they just came straight towards me.

“I was petrified but I couldn’t let them know that. It was very clear that they wanted to mug me.

“I just started screaming really loud and I was also on the phone to a family member who managed to alert the police.

“I was very very lucky that they decided to run away. I felt very intimated in the moment and I didn’t know what was going to happen.

“Police came to the scene very quickly to help me.”

The victim has said the horrifying incident has scared her from visiting the park again.

“It was not a nice experience and no one should have to go through this. I hope that by sharing my story it can maybe help spread awareness", she said.

“Women or anyone for that matter should be able to go to a park without being scared. I probably will never visit the park again.

“Luckily I have amazing family and friends who have been helping me get over it.”