Victims wanting to report a crime in person in Halstead will permanently have to travel to Braintree to do so.

Essex Police closed the front counter of Halstead Police Station, in Trinity Street, in March, and moved out of the building in August.

The force has now confirmed it is about to put the property on the market for sale.

It is part of an ongoing scheme from the police and Essex Police and Crime Commissioner to reduce the size of the existing estate from 80 to around 30 buildings and reduce high maintenance bills.

The current police estate in Essex costs £10million a year in running costs but the buildings would require £30million of maintenance work to bring them up to standard.

Braintree Police Station is open to the public from 9am to 5pm seven days a week.

Chief Inspector Craig Carrington, district commander for Braintree and Uttlesford, said: “I understand people are attached to their police stations as they are an important part of the community.

“However the reality is many of our police stations are under-used by the public, are ageing, in a poor state of repair and are no longer fit for the needs of a modern police force.

“Halstead will continue to be policed by dedicated officers who will respond to emergencies, investigate crimes, work to resolve local problems and work alongside partners to protect people from harm and prevent crime occurring.”

Figures released by police and crime commissioner Roger Hirst showed in two months 259 people visited Halstead police station, of which only four were reporting a crime.

Braintree’s police station received 2,460 visits during the same period.

People are instead encouraged to report crime by calling 101, or online at www.essex.police.uk. People should call 999 in an emergency.