Woman charged following protest over asylum hotel

Sarah White was arrested outside an Epping Forest District Council building

A woman has been arrested and charged after taking part in a protest against the housing of asylum seekers at a hotel in Epping.

Sarah White, 40, from Chigwell, was charged with failing to comply with the conditions of participation of a procession and being a public procession organiser failing to comply with a notice, Essex Police said.

The protest took place on Sunday evening outside The Bell Hotel in Epping, which is on the edge of the town and accommodates about 140 asylum seekers.

Ms White was arrested outside an Epping Forest District Council building and will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on 15 October.

On Friday the Court of Appeal overturned a temporary injunction that would have ended the hotel's use to house migrants until a full hearing takes place later this year.

Essex Police said on Sunday its officers "facilitated a procession to [Epping] town centre and back" from The Bell Hotel and public order notices were in place to manage the protest.

Three people were arrested Sunday evening, the force added.