Technical fault halts 999 calls

Calls to the 999 emergency number in Essex cannot be taken.

The East of England Ambulance Service and Essex Police said technical problems had caused the fault in the 999 service at lunchtime.

Members of the public ringing 999 number have been receiving an automated message on answer machine.

Emergency calls to the ambulance service should be made to a temporary number, 01245-443241. Urgent calls to police should be made to 01245-490991.