A restaurateur has described how he defended himself against a man threatening to kill him and others with a meat cleaver.

Nicky Hunt, owner of Catch fish restaurant in Queens Road, locked up for the night on Saturday and headed to nearby Coriander Indian to collect a takeaway.

As he sat in the waiting area a man, believed to be in his 20s, entered.

Mr Hunt said: “It was the most terrifying moment of my life.

“I saw him outside with the meat cleaver in his hand. He banged on the window and then he came in and started shouting and waving it around.

“He was shouting ‘you’re going to die’.

“He came for us and I was the first in line.

“One of the men from the bar area came round. I grabbed hold of his arm and he head butted me. I fell back a couple of steps. One of the waiters tried to grab him and I punched him and knocked him out.”

There were around 20 people eating in the restaurant at the time of the incident.

Mr Hunt, 44, said that he is glad he was there to help fellow business owners.

He said: “It was like he was on drugs. It was horrendous.

“I just knew I had to stop him. I think I was in the right place at the right time.”

A man was arrested and Essex Police have been asked for further details.