A WORRIED businessman has spoken out after two gangs of armed men confronted each other outside his family-run business.

Police were called to reports of a running street battle involving three armed men, apparently chasing a second group of men outside the Mann Bros supermarket in Hillhouse, Ninefields, Waltham Abbey.

A police spokeswoman said: "We received a call shortly before 5pm to a report of armed men involved in an confrontation.

"There were conflicting reports from eyewitnesses, some suggested that the group had guns, and other said they were holding metal bars, however we were unable to confirm this."

She added: "No-one was injured in the incident and an investigation is ongoing."

Residents reported seeing one white male and two black males carrying iron poles chasing another group of men through the area.

Supermarket owner Sabby Mann witnessed the chase, which he attributed to "outside gangs".

He said: "It's normally a quiet area but it all seems to be going off lately.

"I know the local kids around here and they're pretty good, apart from the usual rowdy stuff, but I didn't recognise any of these people.

"It's difficult when you get outside gangs coming in and making trouble."

Mr Mann added that while he did not see any evidence of guns, he had seen at least one "cosh-style" truncheon, and heard youths shouting about "someone having a gun."

He said: "They came running through the shop and tried to get out of the back door, with several other youths chasing them."

Mr Mann said he believed this was a follow-up attack to an incident two weeks ago.

He said: "A window got smashed and it has all snowballed from there."

The latest incident happened shortly before 5pm on Tuesday, July 8. Anyone with information should call 0800 555111.