Holidaymakers are horrified: Teenager is raped under a bridge just a few metres from a busy clubhouse

• The attack occurred at Martello Beach Holiday Park in Jaywick, Essex

Holidaymakers at a seaside caravan park where a young girl was raped under a bridge just metres from a busy clubhouse reacted with horror yesterday.

The victim was led by two teenagers from an amusement arcade, across a car park and under this steel bridge at Martello Beach Holiday Park in Jaywick, Essex.

The shocking crime occurred on Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. in daylight. Police are now looking for witnesses.

A father of two children, who only gave his name as Kai, reported how the bridge had been closed over the weekend.

He said: “I arrived here on Friday afternoon and the next day there were police everywhere. They had cordoned off the car park by the clubhouse and cordoned off the bridge. They were looking underneath.”

“I knew something serious had happened because I heard one of the officers talking about getting video footage, but we didn’t know until today that a young girl had been raped down there. It’s horrific.”

“My daughters are coming tomorrow to spend the week with me. They are nine and eleven years old, so not much younger than this poor girl.

“I won’t let her out of my sight.”

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“I remember seeing a group of boys near the clubhouse early Friday night. The place where they were was completely surrounded by garbage. It was near where the girl was said to have walked on her way to the bridge.”

Kai, who is from London, added: “For me as a father of two young daughters, this really hits home.”

Another couple, who wished to remain anonymous, added: “How could something so terrible happen in a holiday park with so many people?”

“It wasn’t even dark at 7:30 p.m. The guys who did this must have been bold.”

“I hope the police find her. What happened makes me sick.”

The boys the police want to track down are described as white boys in their early teens.

One has black hair and wears a white vest and grey shorts with a vertical light green stripe on the side, white shocks and white sneakers.

The other person is described as someone who has dark blonde hair and is wearing a blue t-shirt with white writing on the back and small white horizontal lines on the arms, blue shorts and black flip-flops.

Detective Inspector James Hardingham of Essex Police said: “I know this incident is causing concern among residents and visitors to the park and my team are working around the clock to identify these two boys.”

“The victim and her family are being supported by specialist officers and staff.”

“Over the weekend, officers carried out high-visibility patrols, while plain-clothed police officers also carried out investigations, such as going from house to house and talking to residents.”

“The boys were seen in the amusement arcade at around 6.50pm before walking with the victim down Kestral View, between two caravans, across the car park and towards the bridge where we believe the assault took place.”

“I believe there are a number of people in the area who have seen the boys. Anyone with information should contact us.”