Essex will be plunged into the toughest Covid rules unless the county council steps in now - one council bosses warns.

Gavin Callaghan, Labour leader of Basildon Council says Essex County Council must stop Tier 3 being enforced.

It comes as Basildon's Covid-19 cases have jumped again by more than 500 in the latest data from Public Health England.

READ MORE >> Pfizer Covid jab: Basildon and Southend Hospitals in list for hubs

Mr Callaghan said: "Today Essex County Council refused to meet me to discuss my suggestions to help Basildon combat the two key areas where infections are spreading; in schools and in manufacturing workplaces.

"Their response is too slow. We can avoid a TIER 3 lockdown if they implement Basildon Council’s suggestions.

"Yet again our masters in County Hall refuse to listen to us. If we are forced into TIER 3, it will be because Essex County Council refused to take the necessary action to stop the spread of the virus. They were warned."

Figures for the seven days up to November 28 show Basildon's rate of infection per 100,000 people at 304, with 569 new cases confirmed.

This is a rise of 57 from the number of new cases confirmed in the seven days up to November 21 which was 512, with a rate of 273.5.

This puts Basildon as the 13th worst location in the country for new Covid cases.

An Essex County Council Spokesperson said: “There was a meeting with Cllr Callaghan on Thursday last week and an agreement for a follow-up meeting on this Friday (4th December), which is still scheduled to take place.  There have also been discussions between Basildon and Essex council officers almost every day since then, led by the Director of Public Health to establish and implement a plan to reduce the very high numbers of cases in Basildon.  Essex Police and Public Health England have also joined some of those meetings. 

“An effective response to the situation in Basildon remains the focus of all our attention, as it did when other areas in Essex saw significant increase, and we remain committed to working with Cllr Callaghan and other partners to achieve this.  The meeting tomorrow, will consider a joint plan.”