ARMED thugs in balaclavas robbed a group of girls at knifepoint in a terrifying robbery in a Basildon park.

The mother of the one of the victims has revealed how the group of girls were targeted by three boys, all wearing balaclavas and armed with knives, near the skate park in Gloucester Park.

The girls were threatened before being ordered to open their bags so the yobs could rifle through them, according to the mum.

According to unconfirmed reports on social media, another group of young people were also robbed at knifepoint in the same park this week.

The incident took place at roughly 6pm on Wednesday.

The mum described it as a “parent’s worse nightmare”, and now worries about letting her teenage daughter visit the park.

She said: “There were three boys, one bike, and one had a balaclava on. The group were carrying knives, one smallish one, and one machete.

“They approached my daughter’s friendship group asking for weed, before they then went through their bags, and stole power banks and charging wires.

“My daughter managed to get away, and made her way to nearby flats, and a couple let my daughter in, and called the police.

“When the police arrived, one ran off dropping a weapon on the floor, and I think the other two were caught by police.”

Another resident took to social media to claim a family relative was also subject to a knifepoint robbery in Gloucester Park this week.

The unnamed mum added: “My daughter is, as a lifelong resident here, growing up. It was a lot better.

“Basildon and the surrounding areas as of late have got so bad for violence.

“I feel so unsafe. Even as an adult, I am worried to even go out myself alone.

“I have seen kids in town intimating adults and kids too. It is not right.

“I don’t really want either of my kids to go out, but I don’t want to stop my children from having a life just because kids like this are about.

“But it is not fair to be out and about and be terrified if something might happen.

“This is a parents’ worst nightmare. I can’t even bring myself to think of what would have happened if my daughter hadn’t of run for help.”

Essex Police was contacted for comment by the Echo but did not respond before we went to press.