A FIGHT between “20 people” broke out outside a Wetherspoon’s pub in Leigh days after the public was told to drastically limit social interaction.

Police were called to the scene outside the Elms pub, in London Road, in the early hours of Friday morning.

Essex Police have confirmed an investigation has been launched after reports of a woman aged in her twenties being assaulted.

A witness, who lives nearby, told the Echo she is extremely concerned the pub was still full, despite clear Government advice encouraging people to stay away from pubs during the coronavirus pandemic.

The 47-year-old said: “I couldn’t believe the amount of people who were not obeying the government’s advice with regards to social distancing.

“About 20 young adults were making such a noise and acting antisocially and fighting at about midnight in the pub car park.

“When the police arrived, the kids all tried to run away but the police managed to catch a lot of them.

“I am worried for our community right now that pubs are allowed to remain open. They [the Government] are encouraging social distancing and this will be making it worse for everybody else.

“It’s not on at all. I would hope that their parents would still be able to stop them going out.”

A spokesman from Essex Police, said: “We were called around 12.20am on Friday 20 March, with reports of a disturbance on London Road, Leigh.

“It was reported a woman in her 20s had been assaulted.

A 22-year-old man from Benfleet and an 18-year-old from Southend were arrested on suspicion of common assault.”

On Friday evening all pubs were ordered to close.

The pub chain was contacted for a statement.