A NIGHTCLUB manager was kidnapped at knifepoint and only escaped by throwing himself out of a moving car.

The 37-year-old man, who runs May-hem in Southend, was threatened with a knife as he arrived at work and forced to lay on the ground while his hands were tied, before being bundled into the back of his own car.

He later escaped by hurling himself out of the car as it drove along Priory Crescent.

Mayhem has now put up a £25,000 reward for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the attempted kidnappers.

The victim, who was too frightened to be named, said the attack was "petrifying".

He said: "I've worked for nightclubs for a long time and it's always in the back of your mind something like this might happen, but you never think it actually will."

The man was set upon by three thugs after he parked his silver-grey BMW M5 in the car park underneath Tolhurst House, in Whitegate Road, Southend, at 9am on Monday.

One man threatened him with a knife and ordered him to lie on the ground face down, while two others tied his hands using plastic cable.

After he was shoved into the back of his car, the three black men demanded to know how to get inside the nightclub, in Warrior Square.

The manager made a desperate attempt to escape his captors while the car was parked outside the club, but failed. The trio then panicked when the club's shutters rose, and they drove off, asking their hostage for directions to London.

The victim said: "I was so scared, but I knew if I took them to Priory Crescent we would get caught up in traffic.

"As soon as we were a few cars back from the Cuckoo Corner, there was a bit of a rumble in the back of the car, but I managed to push myself out. It's amazing how your brain works. I knew I had to do whatever it took to get away."

The attackers abandoned the BMW in St Michael's Road, Daws Heath, about 20 minutes after the abduction took place.

Det Insp Simon Dovaston, who is leading the investigation, said: "We would urge anyone who saw any suspicious activity near Tolhurst House or anything in Priory Crescent or St Michael's Road, to call us."

Anyone with information can call Det Con Bob Evans at Shoebury CID on 0300 333 4444.