YOBS ran riot with fireworks in Witham with one resident saying one "exploded" in her face in a night of chaos in the town centre.

The mob of between "30 to 50 kids" ran through the town setting off fireworks and screaming as they exploded.

A shocking video was captured of the group in Newland Shopping Centre, with fireworks flashing in the background before one exploded in the face of Jody Morris, 29.

Jody was locking up the tanning shop where she works when she heard “a very large crowd” and saw a big group of "about 50" teenagers.

She began filming and captured a stream of kids running and screaming on video, which has been viewed more than 30,000 times on social media.

Dangerous - Jody filmed the teens running through the shopping centre as fireworks exploded in the background Dangerous - Jody filmed the teens running through the shopping centre as fireworks exploded in the background (Image: Jody Morris) Jody said: “It was nothing I was actually shocked about.

“I’ve lived in Witham my whole life and the same thing happened last year with fireworks being thrown.

“We all knew something was going to happen this year - it was just a waiting game.”

Jody said she received messages from her friends at 6pm on Thursday that a large group of teenagers was gathering near Witham Rugby Club in Spa Road.

They arrived at Newland Shopping Centre hours later, as Jody locked up the shop at 8.54pm.

Close - Jody was almost struck in the face by a firework as it exploded next to her Close - Jody was almost struck in the face by a firework as it exploded next to her (Image: Jody Morris) Jody said: “I see a lot of the kids around during the day, and they’re not technically doing anything wrong but the way they talk and act is very aggressive and intimidating.

“It’s just a small town, but for all you know, they’ve got a pocket knife, even the kids that are 12 years old.

“The kids just seem to be getting more violent and acting like we live in London and it’s such a nice little town.

“I know there’s not much for them to do here, but it’s not an excuse.”

She added: “When I was young we hung around the park like any normal teenager, we weren’t vandalising and throwing fireworks in the street and at shops—there’s no excuse for it.”

Jody said Essex Police called her on Tuesday to confirm if the firework was fired towards her intentionally as an assault, which she said it was not.

She said: “My little niece is only three, and all she can remember from this firework night was that teenagers were being naughty.

“That’s all she’ll remember.”