Police descended on a street in south Essex this afternoon as protestors including well-known activist and former politician Piers Corbyn gathered outside a home.

A YouTube live stream showed a large group of protestors in a stand-off with officers outside a home in Silvertown Avenue, Stanford-le-Hope today (October 4) which is reportedly at the centre of a dispute and is due to be auctioned.

It is currently secured by private security contractors, according to Auction House, with the front door and windows boarded up.

The action involved Piers Corbyn, well-known as an anti-vaccine activist and brother of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. He can be seen in the live stream wearing a shirt which reads: "Resist! Defy! Do not! Comply! Let the UK live!"

Residents in the area claimed to have seen a person with an axe.

Nine police cars were reported to be seen in the area responding to the incident and four arrests were made as a dispersal order was launched.

Essex Police says damage has also been caused to the building.

Bidding for the home reportedly at the centre of the protest starts on Monday, October 9. 

A statement from Essex Police says: "Four people have been arrested and a dispersal order is in place in Stanford-le-Hope following a disturbance there.

"We were called to reports of a disturbance involving a large number of people at an address in Silvertown Avenue shortly before 12.30pm.

"Damage has been caused to the building.

"Four people have been arrested and are currently in custody.

"A dispersal order is in place from 1.50pm today until about 1.50pm on Friday (6 October) and gives our officers the power to direct people suspected of causing crime or anti-social behaviour to leave the area.

"If you have any information, CCTV, dash cam or other footage in relation to this incident, then please get in contact with us.

"Please quote incident 459 of 4 October.

"You can let us know by submitting a report on our website where you can use our online Live Chat service available Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) between 10am-9pm.

"Visit https://www.essex.police.uk/digital101to find out more about our website reporting services. Alternatively, you can call us on 101.

"If you would like to make an anonymous report, you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers on Twitter at @CrimestoppersUK, by visiting their website or by calling 0800 555 111."