A MAN was attacked by a hammer-wielding gang who broke into his flat.

The man, who is in his forties, had been asleep at his home at Cecil Court, Jones Close, Southend, before waking at 1am to find a gang had broken in.

One of the three people hit the man in the face with a hammer. They then fled empty-handed.

The victim was taken to Southend Hospital by ambulance, but escaped with minor injuries.

Police arrested a 23-year-old woman, from Westcliff, and a 27-year-old man, of no fixed address, within hours of the attack.

Both were later released without charge.

A woman, who lives in the block and asked not to be named, said: “We heard a lot of noise, but we didn’t really think anything of it.

“My son went downstairs and said there was nobody out there. But he thought he heard a load of crashing and what sounded like a door being kicked in.

“He didn’t know where it had come from, but that’s the trouble in this building – the sound travels when you hear things like that.”

A spokeswoman for East of England Ambulance Service said the victim had a head injury that did not appear serious.

She added: “He had cuts, but he was alert and able to walk onto the vehicle.”

Police initially treated the incident as aggravated burglary, but as nothing was stolen it is now being investigated as wounding with intent. They would like to speak to any witnesses who heard the commotion.

Anyone with information can call Southend police on 0300 3334444.