RESIDENTS can once again use the Essex Police non-emergency number, after a fault caused it to fail this morning

Anyone trying to call the force was unable to get through following the fault early this morning.

People were asked to avoid calling the police unless in an emergency, when they were asked to dial 999.

BT engineers spent a number of hours working to fix the problem, which was resolved by early afternoon.

The non-emergency number is 0300 333 4444 and replaced all individual police station numbers.