Council leaders in Southend fear they could have thousands of pounds cut from their budget - because 16,000 residents have been lost.

Census figures show the resort has thousands fewer residents than expected.

Officials are concerned the findings could mean the government will now trim back the amount of cash the town is given to spend on services.

Council leader Charles Latham told BBC Radio Essex he simply does not accept the figures - and believes there may have been an administrative error.

I don't want Southend to lose out as a result of some administrative cock-up

Charles Latham, Southend Council

According to council estimates, the town boasts a population of just under 177,000 - the census, meanwhile, states 160,256 people live in the area.

Mr Latham said: "We know there are more people than that in the town. I don't want Southend to lose out as a result of some administrative cock-up".

A spokeswoman from the Office of National Statistics said it had not yet heard of any dispute over census numbers in Southend.

She said: "The census is a new benchmark and we believe it is correct.

"The figures are right, but the previous year's estimates were incorrect".

Mr Latham said he has asked census officials to examine their results again.