A 55-year-old traffic warden had a cigarette stubbed out on his face while standing in a street making a note.

A 55-year-old traffic warden had a cigarette stubbed out on his face while standing in a street making a note.

The attack in Southend on Wednesday left the warden “very badly shaken”, police said.

Police said the warden was approached by a man and a woman. The man attacked him and the woman laughed.

“This was a vicious and totally unprovoked attack which has left the traffic warden very badly shaken,” said Pc Robert Chapman. “The woman just laughed.”