MOBS of teenagers travelling towards Southend on trains were searched and sent back to London as police ramped up efforts to prevent another night of violence.

Large groups of youths were spotted filling trains from London towards Southend on Thursday night and disembarking in Prittlewell in a bid to avoid police waiting in the city centre.

However in a bid to avoid the ugly scenes seen on Tuesday, Essex Police filled Leigh, Chalkwell, Prittlewell and Shoebury train station with officers to send troublemakers packing.

A second “beach party” had been planned for Thursday, just 48 hours after an event spiralled into bedlam when violent scuffles and machete fights broke out across the seafront and High Street.

Residents described seeing “mobs” of teenagers on trains, but praised police for stopping, searching and then sending them back to London.

Supt Leigh Norris said: “We did do that as we had information suggesting there would be another gathering with large groups coming down.

“So, we had additional staff deployed, and also focused looking at the train stations too, not just the High Street and seafront. We looked how people travelled down on Tuesday, and we did not want a repeat of that.

On Tuesday night, eight individuals were arrested in connection with the disorder in Southend, on suspicion of offences that included the possession of offensive weapons.

They have since been further arrested on suspicion of violent disorder.

Describing Thursday night, the police reported it as a “peaceful night” with only one arrest made, which was not related to any wider issues.

Despite the fact that no further disorder has occurred since Tuesday, many businesses feared that the city’s reputation had already been tarnished.

Some families have stated they will be avoiding the seafront and High Street as they “don’t feel safe”.

Supt Leigh Norris added: “It is a safe city.

“Things will always happen in a heavily populated city, there will be crime and disorder, but reducing that is key.

“These sorts of things are few and far between. People should always report anything they don’t think is right, and we will respond.

“We have really good people, doing really good jobs, with all these preventative operations going on.”