A town was left devastated as December began after a boy died in an alleged hit-and-run outside a secondary school, leaving six others injured.

Twelve-year-old Harley Watson, from Loughton, a Year 8 student at Debden Park High School, died from his injures after being taken to hospital on Monday, December 2.

Two 15-year-old boys, one 13-year-old boy, one 16-year-old girl and a 23-year-old woman were hit by the car at around 3.20pm on

Willingale Road.

Harley's family paid tribute to their “lovely boy”, saying: “We are so devastated by what has happened.

“Harley was a good, kind, helpful and lovely boy."

Flags at North Weald Airfield were lowered to half mast in tribute to a Battle of Britain pilot.

Flight Lieutenant Maurice Mounsdon, who flew with 56 Squadron from the airbase during World War Two, died aged 101 on

December 5.

He was one of only four remaining members of The Few - a group of 3,000 airmen who defended Britain’s skies for three-and-a-half months.

56 Squadron was awarded Freedom of Epping Forest District in respect of their courage in action during the war.

And there was a general election. Long-serving MP for Epping Forest Dame Eleanor Laing was among dozens of Conservatives returned to Westminster in the biggest Tory win since 1979.

Dame Eleanor, who has been the district’s MP since 1997, received 32, 364 of a total of 50,537 votes, giving her a majority of 22, 173.

She said: "What has happened across this country today is not just a victory for Boris Johnson and the Conservative Party, much more importantly it is a victory for democracy itself and our democratic process.

“It confirms that when the British people take a decision it much be respected and it must adhere to the instructions of the people that must always be carried out."