SHOPKEEPERS and residents have spoke of their increasing level of concern and anger at the levels of policing in Corringham and a lack of an officer presence as a deterrent after two serious incidents in the town in the last 24 hours.

On Sunday, at around 1pm at the Premier Convenience Store on Gordon Road (part of the Grover Walk complex of shops), a sHop manager was seriously injured after being assaulted by a gang of youths and struck with an iron bar after he intervened to protect a youngster who was being threatened with being stabbed by a gang of youths who followed him into the shop.

As well as injuring the shop manager, who was later taken to hospital,  the youthS then started ransacking the shop and ran off with stolen goods.

The alarm was raised by staff at a neighbouring shop who heard the commotion, but they say it took around 30 minutes for the police to respond.

When an officer did arrive, he told them that there were no 'blue light response' teams in Thurrock on shift at the time!

The scene outside the town's Boots store and pharmacy today.

And overnight, the town centre Boots store on St John's Walk was the subject of a raid, when entry to the premises was made by smashing the front windows.

The store, and its pharmacy, was closed this morning and not expected to open until at least 2pm.

The incidents come on the back of a number of others stores in the town centre raising the issue of theft by gangs and the issue of local policing has been raised at several local meetings, including the town's forums, where residents have quizzed police chiefs and even the Police and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst, only to be told that either the town does not have a high enough rate of crime to justify more policing or that patrols from neighbouring town centre teams will attempt to visit Corringham.

It is only a few years since Corringham has its own police station – ironically just a few yards away from the Premier store where yesterday's violent incident took place.

Thurrock Nub News was given a graphic retelling of what happened yesterday by one of the first witnesses on the scene, where he encountered the shop manager reeling from his injuries and covered in blood from a significant head wound.

"It's just shocking and it's only the latest in a number of incidents. Gangs of kids seem to think they can do what they want, when they want in the town and nobody appears to be taking it seriously," he said.

"Yet here we have a threat to stab, a violent assault that could probably even be classed as attempt to murder someone who was intervening to try and protect someone else. He was hit so hard with the iron bar even today (Monday) medical teams haven't been able to x-ray his head to see the extent of the damage because it's so bruised, cut and swollen. This could easily be a life-threatening injury.

Residents have expressed their concern.

"The young people who did it clearly didn't know or care what damge they did. They are prep[ared to stab someone and then hit someone with a metal bar. You don't need to be a genius to work out what's going to happen next if things are left unchecked.

"It took an age for police to turn up and when they did the officer apologised for the day but said there was no-one on shift in Thurrock who could have responded rapidly. You couldn't make it up!

"I know of a number of shops where there have been incidents and we have had residents threatened by people just walking about the town. I know it's probably out of context, but this feels like it's the wild west, not a suburban, quiet community town."

Thurrock Nub News visited Corringham this morning and spoke to a colleague of the injured man who says it will be some time before he is able to return to work and he is still awaiting an x-ray.

The Premier store in Corringham where the violent attack took place.

Staff in other town stores spoke of their unease with the situation and of other incidents where they have reported crimes but have had no response.

"At meetings they tell us to report crimes to build up a true picture of what is happening, but then it seems we are just ignored. Corringham has been left to fend for itself, it seems," one man working behind a shop counter said.

"I feel like sorting out one or two of these young people myself and I know others feel the same – but then you can bet if we did there would be police all over us like a rash. You've got to wonder what the hell is happening to our police service.

"We are told they have more officers in Essex than ever before but we don't see them. We are just lied to and forgotten it seems."

Thurrock Nub News has approached Essex Police for a comment on the general situation, and yesterday's two specific incidents, both verbally and by email to stress the urgency of local public concern, but have had no response.