RESIDENTS are concerned for the safety of schoolchildren after a girl was assaulted by a group.

Witnesses saw a group "filming a girl being assaulted" outside Asda in Highfields Road, Witham.

Jamie Woodham, from Humber Road, shouted out after he saw a group fighting on his way home from work.

Mr Woodham, 20, said: "I was walking past at about 8.20pm and I saw a group of people fighting, and at first I thought it was just play fighting but it turned out it wasn't.

"I shouted over telling them to stop and leave the girl alone.

"A lady in a car who was driving along at the time stopped and checked if the girl was OK.

"All I managed to see was them pushing her around, she looked like a teenage schoolgirl.

"If anything it made me angry and if they were not going to stop I would have stepped in."

Braintree and Witham Times:

Jamie Woodham tried to get the gang to stop fighting

Karen Edwards was also passing by at the time and witnessed the incident.

She said: "A young girl was assaulted badly by a boy and a girl, which I witnessed.

"Thankfully another lady stopped and broke it up and someone called 999.

"The boy filmed the whole thing."

Police are investigating following the assault.

Officers were called to Highfields Road just before 8.20pm on Tuesday, October 18.

A spokesperson for Essex Police said: "The victim, a 14 year-old, said she had been head-butted and punched to the face, causing her to fall to the floor.

"She has suffered injuries to her head, face and knees.

"Anyone with information is asked to contact Pc Daniel Parrish at Braintree Police Station on 101."

People can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously.