A ‘night of action’ by Essex Police resulted in a number of verbal warnings and one man being charged with being drunk and disorderly in Colchester.

Officers were joined by Colchester Borough Council and military police on the town’s streets from 3pm on Friday to 3am on Saturday.

A 51-year-old man, of no fixed address, charged with being drunk and disorderly, is due to appear before magistrates on December 7.

He was also issued with a community protection notice under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Police checked the licenses of 16 taxis, pulled over 30 other vehicles for having faulty lights or defects, and fined a take-away driver for using his mobile phone while driving.

Officers also carried out intelligence based checks on 900 vehicles, moved an aggressive beggar away from the town centre, gave six verbal warnings and found a missing bicycle.