POLICE are hunting a man who tried to grab a 13-year-old girl near public toilets in a park in Southend.

The schoolgirl was walking in Southchurch Park in Shaftesbury Avenue when she was approached by a man at about 4pm last Thursday.

He asked the girl for help by the toilet block next to the cricket pavilion and when she approached she became suspicious and turned away.

As she walked off the man tried to grab her, but she was able to fight him off.

Councillor Martin Terry, cabinet member for public protection, said: “It isn’t the first thing we have had in Southchurch Park.

“There has been one assault down there where a gang of boys attacked a boy and that is unacceptable.”

Mr Terry, who is standing in the Police and Crime Commissioner elections on May 5, added: “We know we have lost our local PCSOs in the area and I believe that’s having an impact on some of these miscreants.

“With that sort of thing you have got to have a zero tolerance approach.

“There have been cases of anti-social behaviour and Essex Police have said they are not dealing with anti-social behaviour. That’s a big issue.

“Where do you draw the line between anti-social behaviour and criminal activity?”

Mr Terry said in the meantime CCTV coverage in the park will be increased.

He said: “There is CCTV down there but we have actually asked for it to be beefed up.

“Anything I can do, and we can do, to improve community safety has to be a priority.”

The man who tried to grab the girl is described as white and was wearing a grey hooded top and jeans.

Anyone with information should call Southend police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.