A man has been charged with a string of offences following an incident in north-east Essex on Saturday morning.

Paul Clarke, 38, an unemployed man of Chestnut Way, Tiptree, has been charged with three counts of making a bomb threat, threatening to kill a police officer, attempted robbery, two counts of criminal damage, possession of a bladed article in a public place and two counts of affray.

Essex Police said he was arrested in Tiptree at just after 8am on Saturday by armed police officers.

He was charged yesterday and has been remanded to appear before magistrates in Colchester on today

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “Officers were called to the Shell Tiptree Service Station in Maypole Road in Tiptree at just after 7am after reports that a man at the location was making threats to staff and members of the public.

“He was in possession of a number of bladed weapons and damage was caused to the pumps on the petrol station forecourt.

“Minutes later officers received a call from a member of the public in nearby Kings Court to say a man had smashed a silver Ford Zetec car, threatening the woman inside.

“No-one was injured and the four cordons put in place by police officers investigating the incident were lifted later that day.”

Detective Chief Inspector Ronnie Egan, of Essex Police, said: “I would like to thank the public and the residents of Tiptree for their support and patience during this investigation.”