A MAN suffered fractures to his face after being attacked in Maldon.

The man, in his 30s, was taken to hospital for treatment following the incident on Poulton Close, Maldon, on Thursday June 16 shortly after 10.30pm.

Police and ambulance crews both attended the incident, and armed officers conducted a search of the area as suspects were reportedly carrying a samurai sword.

Residents said they saw armed police searching areas around the High Street.

Richard Buckby, of Longship Way, said: “There were loads of armed police searching areas in and around the High Street and the side alley near the Rose and Crown pub, lasting until after midnight.

“It was all over Facebook too, no one knew what was going on.”

Residents of Poulton Close said they heard shouting and noises coming from near the Brickhouse Farm Community Centre next to the road.

Resident Alan Jones said: “I heard some shouting and screaming coming from Brickhouse Farm not long after 10.30 at night. I didn’t want to go out there, but there seemed to be a lot of commotion happening.”

Another resident claimed her daughter heard a great deal of noise coming from the community centre when trying to sleep.

She said: “I didn’t hear anything, but my daughter the day after said she’d heard lots of shouting and noises that sounded like people screaming and fighting.”

A third resident added: “Being in a cul-de-sac we often hear any kind of noise that goes on, but it must have passed some people by.

“The farm can get some shady groups of people hanging around, so it wouldn’t surprise me if something bad happened there.”

A spokesman for the ambulance service said one crew was dispatched to Poulton Close following reports of the assault.

He added: “The crew treated a man, believed to be in his 30s, for facial fractures, and he was taken to hospital for further treatment.”

A spokesman for Essex Police said police are continuing to investigate the incident as no one was found in their search during the night.

He said: “The man received facial fractures and was taken to Broomfield Hospital for treatment.

“The suspects were reported to be in possession of a samurai sword which meant armed officers conducted an area search. No one was found.

“While the investigation is continuing, the victim is refusing to cooperate.”