ACROSS Thurrock as New Year's Eve ticks down reports are coming in of local shops being inundated with potential party-goers who appear to have decided to go out and celebrate the transition from old year to new – whatever the cost.

A busy afternoon at local supermarkets has been followed by an influx of people to local shops – and as the evening as progressed, often to the sound of fireworks exploding in the background.

The potential fear is that partying tonight will have dire consequences in days to come, with hospitals in the wider Essex region - and Basildon and Thurrock Hospital in particular - at breaking point.

At one local garage in the east of the borough a large group of people were witnessed entering a store and they bought and loaded booze and party food, together with plastic glasses and cutlery into their vehicles.

Earlier today Thurrock Council leader Rob Gledhill tried to warn people of the consequences of their actions by highlighting the huge spike of Covid in the borough.

In a message to residents he said: "The situation in Thurrock is now one which all of us had hoped we would never find ourselves in.

"Thurrock has one of the highest rates of people testing positive for coronavirus in the country.

"Over the course of December we have seen the seven day positive test rate grow from just over 200 per 100,000 people on 2 December to more than 1,400 today.

"There can be no doubt that Thurrock is in the worst position it has been in throughout this pandemic and we all need to take action now and do everything we can to get the local rate of infection down and protect ourselves, our families and our communities.

"The only way we can do this is by following the rules and the guidance. There is no magic bullet that will make this pandemic retreat immediately.

"Only our determination and sense of personal responsibility can help us during these tough winter months."

However, the fear is his words have gone unheeded and as the clock ticks down on 2020 in the borough, the rising fear is of what the consequences may be in 20121.