A MAN has described the terrifying moment he was chased by a “knife-wielding thug” through the streets of Southend.

Clay Salter, 30, was walking along Victoria Avenue with his partner on Monday evening when a man who was “mumbling and shouting things” allegedly pulled out a flick knife.

According to Clay, he asked if the man was okay before he started chasing him with the blade.

Essex Police are currently carrying out increased patrols after a weekend of violence - including a stabbing in Eastwood and a brawl in Southchurch Road - and were on the scene within 15 minutes.

A 43-year-old man on suspicion of common assault and possession of a knife in a public space after an area search - as the man left the scene when police arrived.

Clay said: “I tried to diffuse the situation and apologise, and he pulled out a flick knife.

“He was asking me to come back so he could stab me.

“I called police and he chased me down the road, he jumped in front of cars while chasing us.

“When police arrested him, he had changed and ditched the knife.

“I felt so scared, it happened around the corner from my family home.

“We know there is a lot of knife crime in Southend but this is by Priory Park, in a family area, crime shouldn’t be happening here.”

Police confirmed the man arrested remained in custody being quizzed by police yesterday evening.

Clay added: “There is a bigger picture, people are coming down from outside and creating crime, nearly all people arrested are not local to Southend, why are they coming here?

“This makes me not want to leave my house.”

Clay believes the incident was witnessed by a number of people in the area at the time and police are urging anyone who saw the incident to come forward urgently.

A police spokesman said: “We were called to Victoria Avenue, Southend, shortly before 6.40pm on Monday to reports of a man being chased and threatened by a suspect.

“He reported a knife had been seen.

“Officers arrived a short time later to safeguard the victim and make enquiries.

“After an immediate area search, an arrest was made.

“A 43-year-old man, from Southend, remains in custody for questioning on suspicion of common assault and possession of a knife in a public place.”