The Evening Echo has been congratulated in Parliament for highlighting the impact of a proposed international airport.

Cliffe airport, built to cope with a predicted surge in passenger numbers, would be on the shoreline of north Kent - but people in south Essex would also be affected.

Bob Spink, MP for Castle Point in Essex, thanked the paper for its coverage of the issues surrounding plans for the airport as he handed over a 10,000 signature petition opposing the £11.5bn scheme.

Thousands of locals across the Southend and Castle Point districts fear the new airport will go ahead.

Speaking in Parliament, Bob said: "Cliffe or any other Thames estuary airport would have a devastating impact on people not only in Kent but in south Essex.

"It would impose massive noise, air and light pollution, environmental damage and possibly, but as yet undefined, flood risks for Canvey and coastal areas of Kent and Essex."

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