A SHOPWORKER was smashed round the head with a wine bottle after he tried to stop a gang of thieves.

A group of six hooded youths burst into Nick’s News, in Westborough Road, Westcliff, and snatched four bottles of wine.

They were chased out of the shop by Pravin Jain, 26.

As he was chasing them, one of the gang slammed the bottle into his neck and it shattered across his face.

Nick Patel, 18, who runs the shop with his family, said: “They ran in and stole bottles of wine and ran out.

“One of my staff ran after them.

“He got a few cuts on his face near the neck, but luckily he didn’t get too much damage. There were a few grazes on his face.”

Mr Patel was in the flat upstairs and saw the gang running away at about 6pm on Sunday.

He said: “They were only about 15 or 16 years old.

“What is the world coming to?

“The thing is, if it happens in my shop it’s bound to happen in other shops. It’s not good for the community.”

Police are searching for a gang of six men and three women believed to be aged between 16 and 20.

They included a white man wearing a blue and grey Nike hoodie, a black man wearing a black Nike Air hoodie and an Asian man wearing a blue and white hoodie.

The girls did not take part in the theft, but are believed to have been watching.

One of them wore a white hoodie.

PC David St John said: “It was a warm Sunday evening.

“I’m sure there would have been lots of people milling about.

“So I would urge anyone who witnessed this incident to get in touch with us as soon as possible.

“Perhaps you were with the group of youths but didn’t get involved in the incident and want to clear your name?

“I’d advise you to come forward now before the police come knocking on your door.”

Anyone with information is asked to call Southend police on 0300 3334444.