A BARMAID was “bottled” and taken to hospital after trying to break up a fight between two women on Southend seafront.

Staff were clearing up at the Falcon pub in Southend’s Marine Parade when a disturbance began outside.

Landlord Chris Elvin said: “These two girls were walking down from the direction of the Kursaal and started up a conversation with two male customers who were outside the pub.

“At first, they were having a laugh and it was all good-natured.

“But someone must have said something because one of the girls started to really become aggressive.”

Mr Elvin, who has run the pub with his wife for four-and-a-half years, said the two girls initially walked off but then came back to continue the confrontation.

He added: “They came back and started screaming and shouting and that’s when a member of staff, who was just collecting glasses outside, tried to calm everyone down. “All she did was gently put her arm out to try and direct the two girls away from the seating area.

“It was in a very calm and friendly way because she was trying to defuse the situation.

“But one of the girls used the bottle of Budweiser in her hand and started repeatedly beating her round the head with it.”

The male customers stepped in to try and restrain the attacker but she was able to run off from the scene with the other woman.

Police were called and the victim was taken to Southend Hospital for treatment for her injuries.

She has since been released and is recovering at home.

Mr Elvin added: “I think the attacker was almost definitely drunk or high on something. “They were not customers of the pub. We get very little trouble in here.

“The trouble is usually on the seafront with people just walking past from pub to pub and they like to sit in the outside seating areas.”

Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information about the assault.

The suspect was described as wearing a black jumper with dark jeans, aged in her 20s with dark hair in a bob.

She is believed to be about 5ft 3.

The woman with her was wearing a tracksuit top and bottoms with trainers and had very short hair.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We were called just after 11.10pm on Tuesday to reports an argument had turned into a physical fight outside The Falcon Hotel on Marine Parade.

“The female victim attempted to break up the argument, which involved two women and a man, and the victim was assaulted by one of the women.

“Detectives are keen to speak to anyone who may have been inside the pub at the time, or may have CCTV or dash cam footage of the incident.

If you have any information please call Southend CID on 101 quoting incident number 1323 of 10/07. Alternatively call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.