THREE men and a woman have been accused of assault after a fight at a pub near Epping on Saturday.

A police officer was hit over the head with a chair and another was hit in the face while they tried to arrest brawlers at the pub in Fiddlers Hamlet at about 12.20am, after reports that a man had been injured in a fight.

The officer who was hit by the chair later needed stitches.

A 41-year-old man from North Weald has been charged with affray and assault.

A 50-year-old man from Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire, is charged with affray, causing a police officer actual bodily harm and another count of actual bodily harm.

A woman, also 50 and from Hoddesdon, is charged with assaulting a policeman in the execution of his duty and a 22-year-old man, also from the town, is charged with causing actual bodily harm.

They have all been bailed to appear at Harlow Magistrates' Court on October 6.