A WOMAN has been mugged in an underpass - and residents are calling for greater security measures in the 'problem' area.

The woman is alleged to have been punched in the face and had her phone stolen in the incident at the underpass underneath Golden Jubilee Way which connects Southend Road to Lower Southend Road.

She was left bruised and shaken.

Residents are now calling for greater security measures to be put in place.

Former independent Basildon councillor for Wickford David Harrison said: "Everyone walking from Wickford to Shotgate has to use that underpass.

"Everyone agrees it needs improving.

"It seems the area is quite problematic and there have been some reports of muggings and people hanging around dealing drugs there."

He added there had been an agreement with Bradgate Developments, which was granted planning permission in 2006 for Riverside Place, to put CCTV covering the underpass which would be linked to the council's network and control room.

However, he claims that only one camera has been put up which covers the outside of Riverside Place, rather than the subway.

He and many others have written to the current Basildon councillor for Burstead, Richard Moore, to ask him to look into whether Bradgate Developments had properly fulfilled its requirements under the planning agreement.

Glen Charters, director of Bradgate Developments, said that as far as he was aware, the company had satisfied all planning demands.

He said: "There is a CCTV camera looking down at the subway from the building.

"As far as I am aware this was all resolved 12 years ago.

"If there is a problem there with drugs and muggings, the police should be more involved.

"We have never heard or experienced any problems with the underpass - certainly not muggings.

"We have done all that we had to do - anything else is now down to the council.

"They have not approached us for more CCTV cameras since."