A GANG of youths tormented customers at Aldi by spitting at them and throwing plants at the front entrance.

The group of yobs hurled abuse at customers and staff before spitting and pushing shoppers into the fruit and veg stands.

Eyewitnesses claim that there were 12 teenagers, aged between 13 and 15, who entered the shop, in The Broadway, Wickford, on Thursday at about 7pm.

Shopper Joe McEvilley said: “I was so shocked.

“They were being such a menace.

“They were hurling abuse at customers and staff, including my wife who has leukaemia, they wolf whistled at her.

“I didn’t see them throwing the plants, but the staff told us what had happened and there was soil everywhere.

“There were younger children really close by, which they had no concern for.

“The fruit and veg aisle took a real hammering; people were being pushed into the stands at the end of every aisle.

“The spit they were producing was disgusting.

“The staff couldn’t do anything other than try to usher them out; they couldn’t lay a finger on them otherwise they would be in trouble.”

A spokesman from Essex Police said: “We were called shortly after 7.05pm on Thursday, May 30, with reports of a disturbance involving a gang of boys in Aldi in the Broadway, Wickford.

“Officers attended and carried out a search of the area, but they were not found.”

Mr McEvilley claimed problems are occurring more regularly.

Yesterday the Echo reported on gangs of youths riding motorbikes on pavements and attempting to cause crashes.

Mr McEvilley said: “We don’t need this in Wickford.

“They really are menacing; it’s the elderly people I’m worried about, they may find them quite scary.

“I know what kids are like, but this was unacceptable.

“They need be told what’s what.

“They scarpered before the police got here.

“They ran off towards the Texaco petrol garage.

“I saw reports that the same group were kicking road signs on Southend Road at approximately 7.45pm that night.”