THE Buckhurst Hill funeral of Reality TV star Jade Goody required a 42-strong policing team according to figures released under the Freedom of Information act.

The 27-year old reality TV star lost her high-profile battle with cervical cancer on Sunday March 22.

Thousands of well-wishers lined the streets on April 4 to see Miss Goody’s hearse driven through Loughton before stopping at St John’s Church in Buckhurst Hill in a service which was also broadcast live on television.

Under the freedom of Information act Essex police confirmed that a team of four senior officers were charged with policing the event along with 17 police officers, 11 special constables and ten PCSO’s.

But a spokesman for Essex police denied the event had cost taxpayers money, stating: “Policing of the event was undertaken by officers on duty at the time. No additional money was allocated.”