POLITICANS in South Essex have united in their praise for the emergency services in the wake of the London attack on Saturday night - but have called for decisive action to be taken to prevent further terrorist atrocities.

It comes as seven people were killed, and a further 48 taken to hospitals across the capital.

Most political parties agreed to temporarily put a halt to campaigning as a mark of respect for victims.

Candidates from across all parties spoke to the Echo about the need for a response.

Rebecca Harris, Tory candidate for Castle Point, condemned the attacks and paid tribute to the “amazing police response.”

Mrs Harris believes fighting the “warped ideology of attackers” should be the priority.

She said: “For so long we have managed to keep this violence off our streets, and then to have three attacks in a row is hard to comprehend.

“The police response was absolutely astonishing, God Bless them they are amazing. Officers here are the best trained armed response force in the world.

“What we have now is a long-term battle fighting against the warped ideology that is leading people to carrying out these twisted attacks.

“The Government has put a huge amount of extra resources into our security services, and will continue to do so.”

Kayte Block, Labour candidate for Basildon and Billericay, echoed Mrs Harris’s calls to prevent the attacks, but added that it must not cause divisions in the community.

She said: “Now is the time for unity and to not turn this into a party political situation. We need to come together and not cause divisions in our community.”

“We need to support those who have been affected, and should also not just accept that these attacks are a normal way of life.

“We have to believe that there is more to be done to stop these attacks.

David Kurten, Ukip candidate for Castle Point, tweeted: “London Bridge incident could be another mass murder. I wish our heroic emergency services well as they deal with it.”

James Duddridge, Tory candidate for Rochford and Southend East tweeted: “Thoughts with all those affected by the events in #LondonBridge and #boroughmarketattack and thank you to all emergency services.”

Kevin McNamara, Liberal Democrat candidate for Thurrock, said: “We owe a huge debt to our emergency services and how they responded to these terrible events.”

Leader of the Basildon Labour Group Gavin Callaghan tweeted: “We cannot allow terrorism to halt our democratic process.

“People will be looking to political leaders for guidance and answers today.”

The party confirmed it would be pausing its general election campaigning in Basildon yesterday.

Thurrock Council tweeted: “Our thoughts are with London.”

South Essex celebrities have also spoken out in the wake of the attacks calling for action.

Basildon-born Alison Moyet tweeted: “Murdering, psychopathic, dead-end, vain-glorious people will not keep us from our capital. You end to nothingness.”

Brentwood-based boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, wrote: “We will not let them win - surely they are winning? Time for action, not words.”

Essex Police moved to quash reports of a terror attack in Billericay yesterday morning.

It came after officers were called to Chantry Way, amid speculation “chants” were made relating to the attacks in London.

Officers arrived at the scene which prompted rumours from residents to spread on social media.

However the force has dismissed the claims. The Echo understands officers carried out an as yet unconfirmed number of arrests on suspicion of drink-driving and public order offences.

In a series of tweets sent later that afternoon, the force wrote: “Media reports are speculating an incident in #Billericay this morning is linked to events in #London and is #terrorism This is not true.

“Initially it appears two arrested, one for drink-driving and another for a public order offence. More details will follow.”