A terrified woman had a golf club swung at her by a man who tried to kick her puppy.

The woman, who wants to remain anonymous, was walking her dog along the Point in Point Road, Canvey, when the man started shouting abuse at her.

She has spoken out to warn other dog walkers as she fears someone will be badly hurt if he is not stopped.

She said: “I have seen him a few times and just tried to keep my distance as he hurls abuse at people. He was screaming abuse at me about people and their dogs. He said ‘if those dogs come anywhere near me I will smash their face in’.

“He picked the golf club up and came towards me. He kicked out at my dog, who is only a puppy.

“He just kept swinging the golf club towards me and my dogs until I left.”

The woman has reported the incident, which happened at 10.30am on Tuesday, to police and has also written warnings on Facebook and Twitter.

She added: “He hurls really nasty abuse at people, and swinging a golf club at someone suggests he is quite violent.

“I am more worried he is going to hurt a dog, or a person or a child as you see kids walking the dogs sometimes.

It could end quite nastily and he always has this golf club when there is no need to, as it is not as if we have got a golf club nearby.”

She had seen him a few weeks before when he had again been abusive and carrying a golf club, but has now reported the latest incident to the police.

The victim, who regularly goes to the popular dog walking spot in Point Road, says other people have come forward with descriptions matching the suspect.

She says he first appeared in the area about two months ago and has only been seen in the mornings.

Police say they are investigating.