POLICE are warning drivers to be vigilant after yobs threw stones at passing cars at a Canvey nature reserve.

Drivers raised the alarm to police after their cars were pelted with rocks as they drove along Canvey Road, close to Canvey Wick, on Wednesday afternoon.

When officers arrived at the scene minutes later, they found two boys nearby, who claimed to be innocent.

Fortunately, there were no reports of any vehicles being damaged or anyone being seriously hurt.

PC Ian Risden, from the Castle Point community policing team, said that although he could not prove the two young boys were involved, they were given suitable advice and made to move on from the scene.

Officers also took down their details.

He said: “We had a phone call from a third party informant reporting that two children were at the RSPB nature reserve throwing stones at the cars as they travelled along Canvey Road.

“Nobody has reported any damage to the vehicles but the informant was concerned that they were up to no good.

“They were worried that drivers could be distracted and injury could be caused as a result.

“When we turned up we found two male youths - they were given words of advice.”

Mr Risden said that the police often are called to the area, particularly along Roscommon Way, to deal with nuisance youths.

He said: “If this happens again, call us as soon as you see anything so we can take them by surprise.

“Try and give as accurate descriptions as possible, particularly of clothing.

“We can issue them with warnings for them not to go to that location for a particular period of time.”

In October, the Echo reported how yobs pelted a fire engine with stones after it was called to a garage fire.

The two fire engines were attending the incident in Church Close, Canvey, and stones were thrown by some of the people watching.

One cracked the windscreen of an engine.

Anyone with information about children throwing stones at cars can call Essex Police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.