Security is to be seriously beefed up at one of the district's most recognisable listed buildings following two burglary scares.

Just before Christmas a number of letters were stolen from Hainault Hall on Lambourne Road, Chigwell.

Three months later a suspicious looking person was spotted outside the gates of the grade II listed building's gates, prompting the owners to act.

In a bid to protect the 18th century property, they have asked Epping Forest District Council for permission to erect 21 CCTV cameras on 14ft polls.

These top-of-the-line, £350 cameras with 30m infrared night vision would cover all corners of the property as seven 150 watt, motion detecting lamps prepare to douse it in light.

Four 30watt alarm speakers would sound the alarm in case the Hall is broken into again.