A TEENAGER had his tooth knocked out by a thug in an unprovoked attack.

The 13-year-old boy was walking through the Eastgate centre, in Basildon town centre, when he was approached by a gang of older boys.

One of them marched up to the boy and said: "What are you looking at?" When the youngster replied by saying "Nothing", he was punched in the face by the yob, causing his front tooth to fall out.

He also suffered cuts and bruises to his lip.

Acting Insp Mark Rayner, of Basildon police, said: "This was a disgusting, violent and unprovoked attack on a teenager who was just minding his own business."

The boy's attacker was white, aged 14 to 15, 5ft 8ins tall with short dark, cropped hair.

Anyone with information about the attack at 12.30pm on Thursday should call police on 01268 532212.