AN air cadet leader has withdrawn his support for Castle Point's annual fireworks display, after teenage volunteers were subjected to abuse and assaults from the crowd.

Flight Lieutenant Nick Watson said his members faced torrents of foul-mouthed abuse and threats from angry drivers wanting to leave the ground at Waterside Farm, Canvey, on Saturday night.

An adult cadet volunteer from the 2187 Canvey Squadron was allegedly assaulted during the confrontation and one member of the public was later charged with a public order offence and threatening behaviour.

Trouble flared as the marshals, mostly aged 13 to 17, struggled to get motorists through the single bottlenecked exit at the event, attended by up to 5,000 people.

Flt Lt Watson said: "It was all right when people arrived, but the problems came when people were leaving. Most people turned up in cars and all left at the same time. It was very difficult to control.

"Police were controlling the main road, but inside everyone was trying to leave by one exit and people were getting irate.

"One of our staff members was assaulted when someone lunged at him. It could so easily have been one of the cadets. We had a bit of trouble last year, but nothing like this. It was quite frightening.

"We are not going to do this next year because it could have got very nasty and I won't put them through that situation again."

Councillors reacted angrily to the treatment of the cadets, who have put in many hours of voluntary work at the event in the past two years.

Tony Belford, Tory councillor for Canvey West, said: "It was a disgusting performance on Saturday night. The young people were there helping the community and all they got was abuse.

"We will need to look at the whole policing arrangement. This was all because some people in the community haven't got the patience to wait a few moments to get out. As a result, volunteers ended up getting abused and assaulted."

Kim Perks, spokeswoman for Essex Police, said she could not confirm whether anyone had been arrested in connection with the assault on the volunteer, but she said: "A 16-year-old male from Canvey was arrested on suspicion of causing a disturbance at a public firework display.

"Since then, he has been charged with public order offences and using words or behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress."

The teenager has been bailed to appear before Basildon magistrates on November 13.