A BRAVE shopkeeper and up to 50 residents chased two gang members after they threatened shop staff with an axe.

The thugs walked into the King Edward Store on King Edward Mead, Laindon, with a dog and started causing trouble.

They were asked to leave, but became more abusive to staff and pulled out an axe from a carrier bag.

The heroic shopkeeper stood his ground and took out a piece of wood and chased the pair from his shop.

Amazingly, 50 residents and customers then joined the pursuit in a bid to catch the black men, who are believed to be part of a drug-dealing gang.

One stunned man who watched the events unfold, but who asked not to be named, said: “It was just unbelievable.

“They pulled the axe out, but that didn’t frighten the owner. He picked up a piece of wood and chased them. The customers are very protective of him and his shop because he and his staff are so good to us. There was no way we would leave him.”

Another woman, who lives in nearby Powell Road, said: “It was unbelievable. When I looked out of the window, I could see the shop owner chasing the pair, and I could see the axe.

“Right behind him there were at least 50 residents running with the shopkeeper to help him try to catch them.”

The shopkeeper caught up with one of the men, but he struggled free, leaving the axe behind. Police arrived after staff at the store sounded a panic alarm. They collected the axe as evidence and are continuing to hunt the men.

They struck at about 7.30pm on Thursday. The male witness added: “The way the residents helped the shopkeeper is great.

“People need to know they can’t touch the King Edward Stores. The residents will just not tolerate it.”