A witness has spoken about police tasering a man, who "dropped like a sack of potatoes", during an arrest following a fight between two groups.

Police, ambulance and a helicopter were called to Southwark Path, Basildon, yesterday just before 1pm with reports of a fight.

Authorities recovered a sword, several knives and a small hatchet.

Neil Cole, 48, a cabbie from Value Cars, was driving into the roundabout of Ashlyns coming from Broadmayne.

Mr Cole said he saw officers were speaking to a man who was backing away from the police.

Mr Cole said: "I was driving to the little carpark in by Northlands Park to wait for a next job. I saw about five officers and a guy exchanging some words.

"I slowed down, I saw the guy backing up from the police and he ran right in front of my car. Police tasered him and he dropped like a sack of potatoes, he looked like he was in a seizure. It just all happened so quickly.  

"I stopped the car before he ran. It was just drivers' instinct when you know something or someone would fly into the road. The guy fell on the ground just two or three feet away from my car.

"I couldn't drive on, there were armed police everywhere.    

"We were notifed by the company there were guys with machetes around Craylands. We were told to be careful."

An Essex Police spokesman said: "We were called to Southwark Path, Basildon, just before 1pm on Sunday October 8 with reports of a fight between two groups of people, during which weapons were seen. 

"One man was arrested on suspicion of possession of an offensive weapon and is in police custody. 

"No members of the public were involved or injured during the incident.
Local patrols will be in the area. There is no ongoing risk to the wider public." 

Investigations are still ongoing.