Police stations across the Chelmsford division will be open for business at the turn of the millennium in case of a major systems failure.

Doors will be open between 11pm and 12.30am on New Year's Eve at the stations in Maldon, Moulsham, Melbourne, Southminster and South Woodham Ferrers as well as the county town itself.

There will also be police officers at Tollesbury fire station for half-an-hour either side of midnight.

Insp Kevin Wakefield said: "The idea of this move is that if telephone lines fail, the public know that they can go to these locations and speak with a police officer."

All police systems have been checked and approved and, at the moment, everything seems to be going to plan."

Mr Wakefield also said that extra staff would be joining the 1,450 officers who will be working when the clock strikes midnight.

"There will be a number of special constables on duty and a number of support staff will be working," he said.

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