A HOMELESS man was left covered in blood after being attacked in the middle of a busy high street as children walked home from school.

Emergency services swarmed Wickford High Street at 3.10pm on Tuesday, after the man - who shoppers say typically camps outside WHSmith - was pushed and punched.

Although the circumstances behind the attack are unknown, witnesses say the victim was left covered in blood.

Essex Police, who believe both men involved are homeless and known to each other, say £20 was later stolen from the victim.

Their enquiries are ongoing.

Horrified, Ashley Brooks, who was driving by at the time, only realised what had happened after visiting a nearby Co-Op store and heard school students sniggering about the events which had unfolded.

The 35-year-old from Wickford said: “I was driving through the area about school pickup time when I saw loads of ambulance and police outside.

“I had no idea what had gone on until I went into the shop and heard two girls, no older than 14, laughing and saying ‘did you see that guy got hurt’? I was honestly disgusted to hear this happened.”

Mr Brooks, who is now hoping to track down the victim, has even offered to pay for a hotel for him to stay in for a few days so he can shower and stay warm.

He added: “I got home and was talking to my partner, Samuel, about it. We knew we had to do something to help.

“We thought this could work temporarily while the cold weather is about. We also want to help get him a studio flat and will be going to the council to see if they can help.

“We’re having trouble finding him, my partner went there first thing in the morning and he wasn’t there. But we’ve left money for him to have food at Hot Curry Express should he need it.”

The ambulance service confirmed one crew attended an incident on the High Street, but say no one required transporting to hospital.

David Harrison, Wickford Independent chair of Basildon Council’s neighbourhoods and public spaces committee, said: “Thank God this doesn’t happen in the area too often, but it shouldn’t be happening at all. If anyone is homeless and there are people with information please get in touch with the council.”

A spokesperson from Essex Police, said: “No arrests have been made and our enquiries continue, including the examination of CCTV from the shop.

“Call us on 101 and cite incident 703 of March 9.”