EX-TOWIE star Frankie Essex has hit out at a group of girls who attacked her at an Epping nightclub over the weekend.

The 26-year-old was at the 195 club, made popular by the cast of the show, when she set upon by a group of girls in the toilets on Saturday.

She told a national newspaper that they tore clumps out of her hair just because of her relationship with the show.

She said: "They were literally pulling out clumps of my hair. They were really going for it. I was scared they might pull out a knife or a smashed bottle.

"They were screaming 'Who do you ******* think you are!'

"They were punching, scratching, pulling. I threw myself to the floor and curled into a ball trying to protect myself.”

It was then a bouncer came to help the sister of Joey Essex, who was at the club with boyfriend John Lyons and TOWIE pals Chloe Sims and Elliott Wright.

Frankie was left with a bruised eye, head and arms.