A DOG walker told how she confronted a masked man who appeared to be following her through Belfairs Wood.

The 25-year-old woman, who asked not to be named, came across the lone man wearing a balaclava as she walked her American bulldog Alfie in the middle of the afternoon.

As she was about to enter the nature reserve, in Leigh, she turned round to find that a masked man hiding behind a tree.

Taking matters into her own hands, she pulled the muzzle off her dog and shouted at the man to leave her alone - causing him to scarper.

The incident took place at about 2pm on Wednesday.

The woman, who lives in Westbourne Grove, Westcliff, and works at Southend Hospital, has urged other dog walkers to be vigilant.

She said: “As I went to the gate of the nature reserve, I turned round to open it.

“I saw this man - he was hiding behind a tree and had a balaclava on. He had a patterned scarf covering the bottom part of his face.

“As I turned round, he just stopped. He was being so weird. He didn’t have a dog with him.”

The man’s behaviour caused the woman to be suspicious and alarmed - which made her shout out.

She said: “I knew something wasn’t right.

“I shouted ‘why are you following me? The man ran off straight away and people started coming down.

“I dread to think what could have happened if he had followed me into the nature reserve, because it is quiet around there.

“Anything could have happened.

“I won’t get that image of him wearing a balaclava out of my head for a while.”

The man was described as wearing a hooded coat and a black cap.

The woman said that she felt there was no need to be so covered up, because the weather was mild for the time of year and the sun was shining.

She said she called police and officers came to search the park, but the man was not found.

So far, no arrests have been made and police are appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with any information can call Essex Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.