A council leader has described protests outside a hotel used to house asylum seekers as a "powder keg" situation. Epping Forest District Council's Conservative leader Chris Whitbread was speaking after more than 1,000 people gathered outside The Bell Hotel in the town in separate protests over two nights last week.

Four men have been charged with violent disorder after protests outside a hotel in Essex believed to be housing asylum seekers, police say.

Protestors gathered outside The Bell Hotel in Epping on Sunday night as demonstrations continued over its use to house asylum seekers.