Labour councillors have called for the installation of vital CCTV cameras inside a park in Pitsea.

After a rise in crime in Northlands Park including a most recent incident where a man was attacked with a samurai sword, Pitsea councillors have called for Basildon Council to install CCTV in the park, using funds allocated in its February budget.

The issue is set to be reviewed at the council's Corporate Resources Committee on October 4.

Gavin Callaghan, councillor for Pitsea North West, said: “It’s bad enough that the Conservatives have sacked 800 Essex police officers and on their watch crime is rising all over Basildon.

"Nowhere more so than Northlands Park which is in danger of becoming a no-go area because of delays in implementing this CCTV. That should not be happening in 2018.

"The Billericay Conservatives running Basildon Council must listen to the people of Pitsea. There is zero excuse or reason for this unnecessary and dangerous delay.”

“Under my leadership of the Council I put money in the budget to protect Pitsea residents.

"The Conservatives found the time and money to put CCTV in to Billericay.

"The committee must now come clean on whether they have removed funds from Pitsea.”

Jack Ferguson, fellow councillor for Pitsea North West, added: “I am receiving calls from concerned residents with increased frequency.

"We have a Conservative Essex Police and Crime Commissioner that has cut police numbers to an unsafe level whilst pocketing a huge salary himself, a Conservative County Council that turned off our Street Lights and a Conservative Council in Basildon that continues to put priorities in Billericay before residents of Pitsea.”