A MAN who called 999 because he "was ejected from a Southend pub" has been slammed for wasting police time.

Essex Police's Force Control Room has urged everyone to think before they call police following the 999 call yesterday evening.

The control room Twitter account posted: "I have just taken an emergency 999 call from a male reporting he has been ejected from a pub in #Southend by door staff.

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"When asked why he called police for that he didn't know how to reply.

"Advice given and call terminated. #ThinkBeforeYouCall."

Hoax calling police is classed as a criminal offence.

The maximum penalty for offences such as these is up to six months in prison, or a £5,000 fine.