Fresh protests erupt outside Epping migrant hotel
Dozens of locals demonstrated outside The Bell Hotel, which has been at the centre of weeks of protests.
Police threw a ring of steel around the hotel as protesters held placards that read: 'Protect our kids'.
Earlier this month, an Ethiopian asylum seeker staying at the hotel was charged with sexually assaulting a schoolgirl days after arriving in the UK.
Local politicians have demanded the closure of the hotel over concerns for community cohesion.
Earlier this week, Kemi Badenoch, the Tory leader, said it should be shut because of the 'genuine' concerns of residents that what was happening in their community 'is not right'.
At Thursday's protest, Stacey Pearson, a 24-year-old mother, said she was there to 'keep up the pressure' to get the hotel closed.
'I have a six-year-old daughter and I don't feel safe,' she said. 'I also have nieces who are a bit older locally. It's unsafe. I want it closing down now. We wont stop until it is. We will be loud and proud to get it closed down. It's a disgrace.'
Ryan Callaghan, a 38-year-old father, said he believed the gatherings had been 'inspirational'. The builder added: 'We need change. We need it closing down. It's hammering it down with rain, and that won't stop us. I hope the migrants can hear and see us.
'The amount of money this is all costing is a disgrace, and our children are not safe. It's not just here. It's up and down the country.'
An unexpected appearance at the gathering was Piers Corbyn, brother of the former Labour leader, Jeremy. The 78-year-old, an anti-vaccine activist, said the migrants should be returned home as he attended the demonstration to campaign against digital currency.
'I'm against migrants being in the hotel,' he said. 'They should be returned home unless they're genuine refugees, which they are not. I'm here to highlight the issue of digital identities. The Government wants digital identities for the migrants and the demonstrators. I'm against that.'
Scenes at the hotel had turned ugly on Sunday when the group clashed with counter-demonstrators. On Thursday, there was not thought to be a counter-demonstration planned.
Simon Atkinson, 45, had attended the protest on Sunday and said demonstrations would continue for the 'foreseeable'.
'We're not stopping,' he said. 'We will keep going and going. Look how peaceful it is tonight without the far-Left.'
Police put a dispersal order in place ahead of the protest giving officers the power to direct anyone suspected of committing anti-social behaviour to leave the area.
Ch Supt Simon Anslow said: 'Tonight's protest follows two previous demonstrations which passed off peacefully and without incident.
'We're putting measures in place to ensure those who want to express their democratic right to peaceful protest can do so safely, to minimise disruption to the local community and to ensure the safety of residents and staff at the hotel.'
The force previously said 14 people had been charged in connection with protests at the site, and there had been 23 arrests.
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