Three men were brutally beaten in an unprovoked attack outside a kebab van in Basildon.

The men, two of whom were with their partners when the attack happened, were set upon by a gang of seven to nine youths near to Fairhouse Community Junior School, Long Riding.

Police are looking for witnesses to the attack that left three men hospitalised.

One of the men, a 32-year-old, suffered a fractured vertebrae, fractured ribs and a cracked tooth.

The other two men, a 26-year-old and a 30-year-old, both needed more than 20 stitches to their face.

The gang, made up of white and mixed race 17 and 18-year-olds, ran off towards Whitmore Way.

Det Con Lydia George of Basildon CID said: "The attack was completely unprovoked. The victims were getting something to eat from the kebab van when this group came up to them and started punching and kicking them. "We want to appeal for witnesses because these injuries were quite nasty. "It happened quite near a residential area so we are hoping a few people may have seen what had happened. Can anyone who saw anything, please get in touch."

If you have information about the incident at around 12.25am last Sunday, call Det Con George on 01268 532212.