Two Southend police officers told how an angry mob overturned and set fire to a police van just yards from them during violent clashes with rioters in London.

British Transport Police officers Nick Brook and Gary Jennings were drafted in with 200 others to face a mob of up to 400 rioters outside Euston station.

It was the first time Sgt Brook and PC Jennings, both based at Southend's Victoria station, had been caught up in large-scale civil unrest, despite dealing with regular unrest during football matches every weekend at home.

But they said comprehensive riot training had prepared them for the rain of bottles, cans, stones, metal bars and steel barriers the rioters threw at them during two hours of violence on Tuesday.

The violence erupted after a day of protests against global capitalism by up to 2,000 people in central London.

Officers had to deal with a series of bomb hoaxes and the unit, including Sgt Brook and PC Jennings, had to travel by Tube from Euston - in full riot gear - to tackle street battles in King's Cross.

The disturbances mirrored violent protests against World Trade Organisation negotiations by 100,000 people on the streets of Seattle in the USA, which have continued throughout this week.

In the London riots, seven people, including one police officer, were injured, and 38 people were arrested for public order offences.

Sgt Brook and PC Jennings were called to move rioters from Euston station but came under attack before they had put on their riot gear.

Sgt Brook said: "It was a minority who caused the trouble. Most people were there to protest peacefully. But we found razor blades stuck to railings and we saw people ripping apart a bus shelter to get metal poles to arm themselves."

He described the moment when rioters targeted a police van just 30 yards from where he was standing.

He said: "We had to hold our lines but luckily there was no-one in the van at the time."

PC Jennings: "That's the job that has to be done though. There was a lot of provocation and a lot of violence but it's important to keep calm and focused on the job."

Both are set to be called up again to deal with more planned protests early next year.

In the thick of it - PC Jennings, left, and Sgt Brook

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

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