A MAN was left "flabbergasted" after police told him they couldn't attend to help a victim who was being violently beaten up.

The incident took place in a park between Juniper Way and Harwich Road, Colchester, on Wednesday.

The victim sustained facial injuries and a suspected broken arm.

The witness, who the Gazette has agreed not to name for fear of recriminations, claimed the victim had been filming nuisance youths - one of whom was riding a motocross scrambler in the greenspace

When the witness, who was walking his dog, arrived at the scene he said he could see the victim holding a camera.

But less than a minute later, at about 5.40pm, he says the man was violently beaten by an older member of the group.

The witness said: "This guy who was in the group came out of nowhere and went up to this guy with the camera and punched him violently in the face.

"It was as hard a punch as you would see and I heard this almighty crack, which I presume was the camera.

"I saw him scrambling away and I actually lost view of him."

He added: "People started to run about panicking.

"I called the police and told them exactly what had happened and asked if they would send a response car.

"They told me, no, they wouldn't because all their resources were being used.

"I said: 'Someone has been brutally attacked and you know about it and you're not sending anybody?'"

The man added: "I was flabbergasted. It is exactly this type of thing which is allowing this lawlessness to happen.

"They have got a lot of resources when they're clamping down on speeding but no resources when someone is being attacked.

"These are vicious, nasty people and I have now just lost faith in the police.

"Neighbours round here are petrified because they know if something like this happens, nothing is going to be done and these people can continue behaving the way they are."

An Essex Police spokesman said the forced received reports of the assault at about 5.35pm.

He added: "A 51-year-old man, from Colchester, was punched in the face by a man riding a black motorcycle.

"The victim ran off towards Hickory Avenue and fell over while being chased.

"He was driven to hospital with cuts to his face and a suspected broken arm.

"Police have spoken to the victim and enquiries are ongoing."

Anyone with information on the incident should contact Colchester police station on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.