Thousands of protestors took to the streets to support a Romford Recorder campaign to stop Britain's biggest prison being built on its patch.

Around 6,000 campaigners marched through the streets, waving placards and banners, in a bid to halt Government plans to build a huge new prison in Rainham.

Land on the Beam Reach Business Park had previously been earmarked for industrial jobs, but it has now been favoured by the Home Office as a site to build a new jail in an attempt to ease prison overcrowding.

Outrage in the community erupted after Archant London's Recorder exclusively revealed news of the proposal in February.

Then on March 9, 200 readers attended a packed meeting to hear further details about the Home Office’s prison proposal, and voice their objections.

Around 50,000 leaflets were also delivered to homes in Rainham, South Hornchurch, Elm Park and parts of Dagenham about the plans.

News editor Eden Black said: "We had no idea so many people would turn up but it's obviously something everyone is against.

"We expected somewhere in the region of 500 to 2,500 protestors so we couldn't believe it when about 6,000 turned up!

"Our circulation department had all the banners and leaflets printed up and we've been covering the story in the paper every week since mid February.

"Local newspapers have a responsibility to make sure people have their voices heard and I think we've really achieved something here to the community's advantage."