A train company today vowed to step up security at Laindon Station after yobs locked in a group of commuters.
The youths used their own padlock to trap more than 30 passengers at the station following a row, leaving them to be freed by nearby workmen.
Some frustrated commuters clambered across the train lines to get out of the station - but fortunately the rails were not "live" and nobody was injured.
Today, c2c - which runs the station - said it was working closely with police to try and catch the yobs responsible for the lock-in.
The incident happened after what the company described as an "altercation" between the gang and commuters who had just arrived at the station.
After the row, and before the passengers could leave the station, the gang returned with a padlock to seal the exit - and then ran off.
More in today's Echo
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