A KNIFEMAN is on the run after terrified residents watched a fight break out inside a car as it was driven through a residential estate.
It is understood a brawl erupted between the driver and a passenger inside the vehicle in Stanway’s Lakelands estate on Wednesday evening.
A concerned mother told the Gazette the driver almost lost control several times as the car came perilously close to children playing in the housing estate’s park at about 7.30pm.
Essex Police has now appealed for witnesses to come forward after the passenger – who is believed to have been armed with a knife – fled on foot and the driver sped off as officers arrived.
The mother, who has requested to remain anonymous, says her son was “very scared” as he watched the incident unfold in Wagtail Mews while out with his friend.
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She said: “One man was driving and the passenger was attacking him and he was fighting back.
“The car almost lost control several times and there are huge black tyre marks along the road. It almost flipped over.
“There were lots of kids playing outside at the park and families walking around. Some people who live in the houses along that road had to run inside with their children.
“The car did stop eventually but the two men carried on fighting. Two police cars arrived but the car managed to get away and the passenger ran off on foot.”
The mother added: “We have had a lot of crime on this estate and I don’t feel safe”.
An Essex Police spokesman stated it is not believed anyone was injured during the dramatic episode.
He said: “We were called to reports of a man with a knife getting out of a car in Martin Hunt Drive, Stanway, shortly after 7.35pm on Wednesday.
“It was also reported that the vehicle was being driven erratically.
“Officers attended the scene and carried out a search but could not find those involved.”
The force has issued an appeal for witnesses or anyone with any CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage to come forward.
Those with information should contact the police by calling 101 and quoting incident 1228 of June 22.
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