There are reports that a man armed with an axe was outside the Pink Toothbrush night club in the early hours of the morning.

Clubbers thanked and praised the bouncers at the Rayleigh-based club who were quick to take action to prevent the incident escalating.

One girl who was at the club at the time, but asked not to be named, said: "It was at 2.30am on Saturday morning.

"I was in toilets at the front with my friend.

"The lights went off and I heard shouting so I went outside.

"There was a man outside the front swinging an axe and the bouncers shouted for everyone to get in and closed the inside doors.

"I went back into the toilets and called the police who informed me there were police at the scene who had detained him and stayed on the phone until it was safe for me and my friend to leave the toilets.

"There were police there with guns, no one was hurt.

"My sister was out the front and said he appeared with an axe swinging it.

"He swung for her and a boy had to tackle her to the ground to save her."

Essex Police and The Pink Toothbrush have been contacted for comment.