CONFUSION around claims that 38 extra police officers will be coming to Epping Forest have been blamed on a lower case 'd'.

At a public meeting organised by Chigwell Parish Council on Friday, chaired by Eleanor Laing MP and featuring District Commander Lewis Basford, it was announced four new officers would start work in the district in April, followed by several more each month throughout the year.

Mrs Laing appeared to confirm the 38 figure on her website on Thursday, in line with the understanding of audience members and a councillor at Friday's event.

She wrote: "I especially welcome the news that our district is to soon see more officers available to police our streets. These 38 officers are in addition to the three officers which are to be funded by Epping Forest District Council."

But now, Essex Police claims the number is wrong, and the 38 would be spread across the whole west of the county.

When asked about the confusion, Mrs Laing said: "Our district is not the whole of Epping Forest, it is the West Essex police area.

"I think the confusion is over the word district, which means West Essex. You see there's a lower case 'd' on the district."

The force confirmed the clarified claims and is due to make an announcement on the number of officers actually destined for Epping Forest in the next few weeks.

Darshan Sunger, Conservative councillor for Chigwell Village, told of his interpretation of the meeting.

He said: "We will be getting 38. My understanding when I was listening was that was the case.

"That is what I took down."

While the announcement may have caused confusion, Cllr Sunger is optimistic about the meeting and what it means for the future.

He added: "It was the Chigwell residents that facilitated this meeting.

"This is the beginning of us working together with our police to bring about change."