A ROMANTIC London rendezvous ended in riot terror for the Sidmouth Herald’s production editor on Saturday.

A ROMANTIC London rendezvous ended in riot terror for the Sidmouth Herald’s production editor last Saturday.

Steve Hutchings was locked in a Tesco Express as anarchists wreaked havoc in the capital and attacked the store.

Mr Hutchings feared for his son- who was unwittingly caught up in the melee outside- during a 15 minute ordeal.

The 57-year-old was making his way back from a lunch date and had met his son when chaos erupted near The Ritz Hotel.

“I’d nipped in to a Tesco Express and then everything kicked off outside,” he said.

“Protesters were trying to smash the shop’s windows.

“The security staff locked us in for our own safety but my son was still outside, on the other side of the police line.”

Mr Hutchings said he was locked in the shop for ten to 15 minutes before staff let customers out the back door.

“I then had the problem of finding my son,” he added.

“Fortunately, I heard his voice shouting after me: ‘Thank God, you are safe’.

“It took two hours to get away from the area.”

Mr Hutchings added: “I thought the police were restrained under provocation. It was just the anarchist element that was out to cause trouble and provoke the police.”