A TAXI driver was terrorised by an armed moped gang wielding a hammer.

Southend driver Shamim Alom had dropped off a fare at the garrison in Shoebury and was making his way back to the town centre when he noticed two mopeds were following him on Saturday night.

He said: “There were two people on each moped then one of them overtook me and I narrowly missed him so I beeped my horn and as I did he started to slow down while the other one pulled up beside me.

“They began gesturing at me to pull over and I could see the passenger was holding a hammer.

“I realised something was wrong. I spend a lot of time on the roads and have witnessed and been part of many incidents of road rage but nothing like this.”

Mr Alom decided to try and shake them off but failed and resolved to drive to Southend police station in Victoria Avenue.

The 45-year-old, who works for AC Taxis and has driven for nine years, added: “As I turned into Lifstan Way, I clipped one and he came off.

"I didn’t wait around to see if they were okay as I could see the other one coming at me full speed and I thought about stopping at the office in Chase Road.

"I turned onto Ambleside Drive and heard a loud thud on the back of the cab so I carried on to the station.

"When I stopped at a set of traffic lights they caught up to me and I heard another loud thud.

"I looked back and they had smashed me rear windscreen before I saw the hammer come through the rear passenger window.

“It was absolutely terrifying. I’m still shaken and haven’t returned to work.

"I will obviously have to go back at some point because everyone needs to earn a living but it is very worrying.

"Who knows what would have happened if they had caught me."

The incident was reported to police.

A spokesman said: "We were called at around 3.40am on Sunday, July 29 with reports a man had had the windscreen of his car damaged.

"He reports two people on motorbikes had damaged his windscreen with what has been described as a hammer in Queensway.

The man then drove off.

"If you saw or heard anything or have any other information about the incident please call us on 101 quoting incident 231 of 29/07 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

Mr Alom said: “Police need to find the culprits before it turns into London.”