A man has been arrested on suspicion of assault after flares were thrown at The Bell hotel in Epping.

Essex Police put a dispersal order in place on Friday night, covering the entire town, until 6am on Saturday.

It gives officers the power to tell people committing antisocial behaviour, or suspected to be planning it, to leave the area or risk arrest.

There have been ongoing protests and disorder at The Bell hotel over the housing of asylum seekers after a resident there sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl.

Video from Friday evening showed a person with their face covered throwing several flares over metal fences in front of the hotel.

"Lighting flares in public spaces poses a clear and real risk to anyone nearby," said Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow

"They cannot be used to dama

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