A security firm has been branded heavy-handed by football fans after trouble flared between its guards and supporters at Southend United's Roots Hall stadium.

Several callers phoned This Is Essex partner paper the Echo in disgust after an incident at Monday night's match between the Blues and Scunthorpe United.

However, First Class Security - overseeing its second game at Roots Hall - claimed its guards were attacked by fans.

Today the club promised a full investigation will be made into the trouble. CCTV footage will also be viewed.

Some supporters in the south stand claim they were manhandled out of their seats when they asked security guards who were blocking their view to move.

Yet Sean Bissett, the security firm's manager, maintains: "We became the focal point of a baying mob.

"I was walking past the lower tier when verbal abuse started raining down from a section of supporters. It got so bad I called over two other members of my team and we got the go-ahead to eject them.

"They put me in a headlock and punched me in the face. Then everyone started jumping on the bandwagon and screaming abuse."

Lifelong Southend supporter Gary Willis, of Central Avenue, Hadleigh, denied it was fans who started the trouble.

He said: "The guards were patrolling unnecessarily in front of the crowd, obstructing the view. The fans got upset and asked them to move.

"Three security guards then forced their way through the crowd past young children and women to physically haul them out of their seats.

"I have been going to Southend United all my life and I have never seen behaviour like this."

Fellow long-term Blues fan, Pipa Newton, has vowed not to return to Roots Hall while First Class Security remain.

The 25 year-old from Grays said: "I am absolutely appalled by what happened.

"They just stormed in and started pulling people out of the crowd. People were getting upset and started taking their kids home."

Supporter David Armstrong, of Goldmer Close, Shoebury, has been a fan since he was six. He said: "I've been going since 1959 and I've never seen anything so disgraceful."

A Southend United spokesman said: "The club regrets the circumstances which occurred late in the match against Scunthorpe on Monday night.

"A skirmish occurred in the lower south stand between a number of spectators and security staff. The matter is being fully investigated by the safety officer.

"Until all the facts have been collated, including footage from the CCTV cameras, the club is not able to comment further."

Insp Trevor Chaplin of Southend police, who was in charge of policing the streets outside the ground for the match, said incidents which occur inside are dealt with by the club's own security.

But he added: "There was an incident inside the ground and myself and my officers did receive a lot of complaints - certainly more than three or four - from fans as they left."

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