A SENIOR Essex police officer has urged residents to enjoy their weekend as planned, despite warning armed officers could be patrolling.

Essex Police is set to make the move with the Bank Holiday weekend likely to see warm and sunny conditions with thousands of people enjoying the county's countryside and coast.

The move to have armed and specialist police officers patrolling ports, airports, railway stations as well as in places where people gather in crowds like seaside towns is as a response to the national threat level being raised to critical.

Chief Supt Ewen Wilson said: “My message to people this Bank Holiday is please enjoy yourselves this weekend and don’t change your plans.

“You may well see armed police officers and other specialist units this weekend. Please don’t be alarmed if you see them. It doesn’t mean they’re responding to a specific threat and there is no intelligence on any threat with an Essex link.

“Police officers with guns can look unusual, but please come and talk to us. Say hello, introduce yourself. We are asking officers to work long hours keeping Essex safe and a hello and a smile will top up our energy levels.”

Anyone travelling or attending an event this weekend may need to allow some more time if there are extra security checks at those events.