WORRIED residents say they are living in fear after armed police were called to Southend again following another night of violence.

A 17-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of affray and possessing a firearm after a group were seen carrying weapons in Rochford Road, Southend.

Armed police and dog units were brought in to break up the incident with residents reporting the gang were carrying hammers, planks of wood, an air rifle and even a sawn-off shotgun.

Earlier in the evening a 25- year-old man was shot in the arm with a BB gun, before he was arrested for affray and suspicion of possessing an offensive weapon in Alton Gardens.

One resident of the road, who asked not to be named, said: “My other half came in and said a bloke outside has a gun, so I told him to get inside so he didn’t get himself shot.

“It doesn’t matter whether it was a BB gun or a hand gun, if a child had been hit it could cause untold damage.

“It was an argument over a bike that escalated. We are living in fear of reprisals and what might happen if anyone speaks out against the people causing trouble.”

One Rochford Road resident, who also asked not to be named, said: “There were a whole load of youths that ran out from an alleyway between here and Alton Gardens shouting and screaming.

“Then I heard the police helicopter and there was an unmarked police car parked outside my house.

“Two men got out and took guns from the boot of the car so I thought ‘woah, this is scary’.

“It’s very dispiriting and worrying to see things happening so close to your home, you hear about things but never think they will happen on your doorstep.”

Police are investigating the incidents which happened at about 6.30pm in Alton Gardens and 8.15pm in Rochford Road, both on Wednesday night.

They particularly want to trace the man who carried out the shooting. He is thought to be aged between 17 and 19.

The two arrested men remained in custody last night.

Anyone with information can call police on 101.

Other serious incidents:

Wednesday, June 24: Disturbance in Eastern Esplanade, 8pm, 17-year-old male from Southend arrested on suspicion of carrying a handgun.

A boy and a girl, both 16, from Southend, arrested on suspicion of affray.

Monday, June 29: Fight in Stanley Road shortly after 2pm.

Four men from Southend arrested on suspicion of assault and violent disorder.

Monday, June 29: Man carrying a handgun outside Christchurch Court, Southchurch Road, at about 6.30pm. A 46-year-old from Southend arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm with intent.

Tuesday, June 30: Five men arrested on suspicion of robbery in Feeches Road.

Six police cars and two dog units descended on the sleepy Southend residential street after police had pursued them from Basildon.

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Wednesday evening was the third time the police helicopter had been deployed in Southend and the fifth time armed officers have been seen in the town in just eight days.

Three of the incidents involved reports of firearms with three involving the use of weapons such as hammers, baseball bats, broken bottles, knives and planks of wood.

Chief inspector Simon Anslow, Southend district commander, said: “Unfortunately we cannot ban hammers.

“They are items all of us have got in our homes.

“The weather has a part to play in these incidents occurring so close together. It was very hot, they were outside, there is more alcohol consumed and an increased opportunity for conflict to arise.

“We examine all intelligence gathered and act upon it appropriately, but if we identify any better ways of tackling crime, as a result of these incidents, then we will implement them.

“Up until the end of June we had a 3 per cent drop in total crime, so these incidents are not set against a backdrop of increased crime across the board, but we do tend to get spates of these things.”