Seafront traders and police have reacted angrily to a violent game - involving shooting "grasses" outside a fictitious Southend nightclub - which can be found on the Essex Boys film's official website.

At the official site - www.essexboysthemovie.com - net users can play the game where a roughly-drawn cartoon character called Gary is aided by the player to shoot and punch his way through the night.

Gary, complete with yellow shirt, tattoos and large gold jewellery, has just got out of prison after a three-year stretch and reminds the player of how an Essex boy is supposed to behave.

Top of the list of seven commandments is "never grass your mates up" - with "Don't make long speeches when a couple of words will do" and "Never get rough unless you can back it up" close behind.

The first question asks what you should do if you spot three people who have "grassed you up".

Your options include asking them politely why they did it, driving home with your mum's groceries or "Do what any Essex Boy would do". The correct answer allows you to shoot the snitches as they wait outside Blondz - the seafront nightclub depicted in the film.

Another question leads to Gary beating up a group of lads in Blondz because they spilled his pint.

An Essex Police spokesman said yesterday (Tuesday): "We are disappointed the film makers have chosen to portray Southend in this light. Regardless of it being just a video game, suggesting people start a fight in a nightclub or shoot 'grasses' outside a nightclub is irresponsible.

"Essex Police has worked very hard in partnership with Southend's businesses, and the county remains one of the safest in England, as the Home Office crime figures revealed today."

John Barber, chairman of the Southend Seafront Illuminations and Business Association, said he deplored how Southend was portrayed and said many traders would be angry at the film company.

He said: "It clearly has no connection with the reality of Southend whatsoever. We hope people will realise it bears no resemblance to the true Southend.

"Over the past few years the seafront traders have worked hard to help create a safe, family environment and this sort of thing doesn't help.

"But there is a difference between watching a fictitious film and playing a game where you shoot people.

"I feel considerable frustration at the website but the association hopes people will bear in mind it is just a game."

Pathe, distributor for the Essex Boys film, yesterday (Tuesday) refused to comment about the website game.

(Right) Fiery foursome - gangsters in Essex Boys set a car ablaze, but such scenes are far from the real picture in Southend, according to shop bosses and police

(Left and below right) Road rage - angry seafront traders claim the Essex Boys game wrongly depicts Southend as a violent place

By Carl Eve

Reporter's e-mail: carl.eve@notes.newsquest.co.uk

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.