ESSEX is bucking the national trend with its Remembrance Sunday parades set to go ahead despite police not being able to provide officers to help out due to lack of resources.

In previous years, Essex Police provided rolling blocks or a handful of police officers have attended to marshal parades.

But with funding shortages, and the police force insisting that road safety and traffic management fall under local authority jurisdiction, councils have been left to rely on volunteers or employ their own traffic management companies.

Across the country some councils have been forced to cancel parades, but parades across south Essex will continue as planned.

Councils were first informed of changes in 2015, after a host of cuts by Essex Police, but many had hoped plans would return to normal.

Essex Police announced major cuts to its services in October 2015 with all but 60 of the county’s 250 PCSOs losing their jobs.

Rayleigh Town Council took over traffic management in 2015 after police informed the British Legion they would no longer be able to do this. The council now employ a traffic management company to conduct a rolling road block for the parade and a road closure for the laying of wreaths.

In Castle Point parades will go ahead at Canvey Paddocks, at Hadleigh war memorial and at St Mary’s in Benfleet.

Essex Police has confirmed officers will attend Basildon, Wickford, Billericay, Laindon and Pitsea parades in a ceremonial capacity to pay their respects.

Southend’s neighbourhood policing team will be attending this year’s parade, while Southend Council have provided road blocks.

An Essex Police spokesman said: "We need police officers on duty investigating and solving crime and keeping victims safe.

"That’s where we have to prioritise our time. There is a clear process for closing roads for events and a clear role for councils in making sure those temporary closures are put in to practice.

"Officers from local and specialist teams will be working during remembrance day events to make sure parades and services are safe and secure. Any officer at a parade or service is on duty and will be on hand to help make sure these important events are safe and successful."