Two men have been charged following Friday’s violence that broke out outside a hotel used to house asylum seekers in Epping.

Jimmy Hillard, 52, of Chequers Road, Loughton, was charged on Saturday with assaulting an emergency worker and Ross Ellis, 49, of Orchard Croft, Harlow, was charged with failing to provide a specimen.

A third man arrested on suspicion of violent disorder remains in custody, Essex Police said.

Assistant Chief Constable Glen Pavelin said: “The right to protest does not include a right to commit crime and we’ve worked very closely with our Crown Prosecution Service colleagues overnight to secure these charges, and the cases will now proceed through the court system appropriately.

“To our residents in Epping, you will continue to see a policing presence in the area t

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