Essex Police officers have been spotted shepherding pro-migrant protesters to the hotel in Epping at the heart of this week's unrest.

The force had at first denied escorting the demonstrators to the hotel - but have now U-turned to claim it was officers' "duty" to do so.

The backtrack came after police were shown footage of themselves walking alongside activists - some of whom were masked - as they chanted and marched through the streets.

Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hooper said: "We have a reasonable duty to protect people who want to exercise their rights.

"In terms of bringing people to the hotel, the police have a duty to facilitate free assembly.

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"We would only ever take people away from protest if we felt there was an immediate threat to people or property, to free up police resources, to protect others, or to prevent additional violence.

"In Epping, officers took all three of those into account before making their decisions."

But locals have warned that escorting the pro-migrant activists had made clashes inevitable - while Nigel Farage has warned that "heads must roll" in the force.

The Reform UK chief blasted: "I didn't want to believe this had happened and then I saw the video.

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"It's an absolute disgrace, and the police's priorities need urgently looking at."

He later added: "Essex Police escorted protesters to the hotel in Epping to force a confrontation.

"Initially they denied that it had ever happened in the first place. Heads must roll."

Footage shared on social media appeared to show the confrontation escalated after the arrival of the counter-protesters, with objects reportedly thrown and minor injuries sustained.

Orla Minihane, a leader among the anti-migrant protesters, said that residents who had protested over women and girls' safety fears felt police were almost forcing a "confrontation" between the two groups.

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Nigel Farage said that police initially denied that it had ever happened in the first place

So far, six people have been charged with offences related to the disorder in Epping, following further clashes on Sunday.

Epping Forest District Council leader Chris Whitbread, meanwhile, has ordered the accommodation to be shut for good.

"I understand families who are deeply upset by what's happened and I really get it," he told the BBC.

He added: "From day one, Epping Forest District Council had a position of 'this was the wrong location for this hotel and it's a powder keg now and we need to get something done and we need the Home Office to listen.'"