PARENTS have been warned to be alert after reports of two men on a motorbike armed with a knife in a Benfleet park.

Police are investigating the incident in Richmond Park shortly before 6pm on Saturday.

It is understood that two men on a motorbike, dressed entirely in black and with their faces covered, were being intimidating.

Officers attended the scene shortly afterwards, and enquiries are ongoing.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “We were called to Richmond Park in Richmond Avenue, South Benfleet, following reports an offensive weapon had been seen.

“Our officers attended and conducted a thorough search of the area, but no one matching the description of the suspect was found.

“Our enquiries are ongoing, and we need anyone who saw anything to contact us.

“If you have any information, you can submit a report online at www.essex.police.uk or use the ‘Live Chat’ button to speak to an online operator between 7am-11pm.

“Please quote incident number 962 of April 9.

“You can also call us on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

Reports on social media suggested there were children in the park at the time of the incident and have been left shaken after being “intimidated” by those with an offensive weapon.

In a Facebook post a woman, who is a mother to one of the children at Richmond Park, warned other parents to be careful.

She wrote: “Be careful if you let your older kids go to Richmond Park as my daughter and her friend were there late afternoon Saturday, when two men on a motorbike, maybe a dirt bike, all dressed in black, and faces covered were being intimidating.

“The passenger had a knife in his back pocket.

“The kids ran and found a couple who walked them to their nearest friends’ homes, but her and her friends are so shaken.

“Kids should be allowed to be kids and feel safe in parks.”