A YOUNG woman is warning people to be careful and aware of their surroundings after a man indecently exposed himself to her and her friend while she was walking home.

Patsy Stevenson, 24, of Westcliff, was returning home from a night out with her friend Kaia Frazer, 23, of Wakering, at 2.30am on Wednesday morning when the unpleasant incident occurred.

They have both been left shocked and concerned by the encounter.

Patsy said: “We were walking along London Road.

“I didn’t hear anything but my friend said she heard a loud clap and turned around.

“As she turned round, I did too.

“There was this guy standing across the road from us and he was completely naked.

“It was like something out of a horror film.

“As he saw us looking, he started thrusting towards us. He was staring directly at us all the time.

“At one point we thought he was going to start running towards us. It was really scary for both of us.”

She immediately called the police to report the incident and warned other people she saw in the area about the naked man.

Patsy added: “The policewoman was really good. She stayed on the phone while we walked home.

“The man had walked off down Balmoral Road.

“He wasn’t wearing any shoes either, so we are convinced he must live locally.”

She added that the encounter ruined the end the great night they had been enjoying.

Patsy said: “I always thought I wouldn’t be bothered by something like that, but it has really affected me my friend and I.

“I no longer walk home by myself down that road and now always make sure I have money for a taxi.

“We are quite an independent group of girls, but this has really worried me.

“I want to warn other people that this is happening and that they need to be careful when they are out and about.

“Apparently they will make a loud noise like clapping to make you turn around. “I didn’t know that and if I had I might have been more aware.”

Essex Police said they were investigating and enquiries are ongoing.