Another council could pay thousands of pounds from its own pocket as it seeks to maintain police coverage.

Buckhurst Hill Parish Council has said it is “very committed” to funding a police community support officer (PCSO) after the recent announcement of sweeping cuts to officers and stations.

Councillor Aniket Patel and parish clerk Kevin o’Brien will meet with Epping Forest’s top officer district commander Denise Morrissey next week to discuss the plans.

In the district and Brentwood, the number of PCSOs is set to be cut from 26 to seven, with only 60 out of 250 remaining countywide.

Cllr. Patel said: “We still want to recruit our own PCSO for our parish, deployed for the parish.

“We are very committed to take this forward.

“Instead of making them redundant we will take one on.”

Last week, Ongar Town Council voted against a similar £36,000 proposal because it would have had no say on where the officer would be deployed.