A GROUP of youths allegedly harassed and spat at a supermarket manager after he tried to stop one of them riding his bike in the aisles.

Police rushed to the South Woodford branch of Tesco Express, in the High Road, at around 7.30pm on Thursday evening after a worried phone call from its boss.

The manager claims the trouble began when a youth came into his shop on his bicycle.

The youth did leave when asked to by staff, but then proceeded to loiter outside the shop with his gang.

The group then allegedly attempted to enter the store a second time before spitting at the manager when he tried to block their path.

A spokeswoman for Redbridge Police said its officers found no evidence of a disturbance when they arrived at the scene, and no arrests have been made.

One witness, who did not want to be named, said: "There were a lot of police there, they sent two cars and there was quite a commotion.

"But I guess every spittle helps."