A TERRIFIED mum dialled 999 after she saw a group of boys walking along the street carrying knives.

The mum, who did not want to be identified, spotted the gang-of-four in Nether Priors, Basildon, at about 5.15pm on Wednesday.

She said her husband noticed the weapons as they were driving past.

She posted a warning on Facebook for other people living nearby to stay vigilant.

She said: “There is a group of four guys walking on Nether Priors in the road quite casually with knives.

“Police are aware.

“One had shoulder length dreadlocks and baggy trousers and another was black, around late teens early twenties.”

She added that one of the group was carrying the knife down by his side in his right hand.

Emergency response officers were dispatched to the scene to search for the gang but there was no trace.

Andrew Buxton, Labour councillor for the St Martins ward, urged people to continue reporting incidents to police so they will target crime hotspots.

He said: “It’s very worrying that kids are going around carrying knives - it is a scary society that we live in now.

“By the time the police get to the area, they are long gone.

“I think this is down to policing resources, there isn’t enough officers.

“People should keep on reporting knife crime and any crime to police so at least they are getting reported and the police can find out where the hotspots are.

“Then we can get more patrols.”

Members of the public are urged to safely dispose of the knives in a knife amnesty bin no questions asked.

The bin was placed outside the Chalvedon Community Centre, in Chalvedon Square, Pitsea, after Darren Kelly was knifed to death in the street last year.

An Essex Police spokesman said: “Police were called shortly before 5.15pm on Wednesday with reports four youths were seen carrying knives in Nether Priors, Basildon.

“Officers attended and carried out a search but there was no trace of the men.

“Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously.”