A bus company has threatened to scupper one of the biggest events in Witham's calendar after opposing the closure of Newland Street.

Witham Town Council, which has ran the International Puppet Festival from the town since 1999, has applied to Braintree Council for the main road to be closed to traffic so crowds can meet weird and wonderful creatures.

However, bus firm Stephensons of Essex has threatened to jeopardise the festival - which draws in thousands of visitors from across Essex - by opposing the application for the road to be closed, suggesting it is bad for business.

Town council clerk Mark Squire said he was confident the festival would carry on as usual and, if the objection is upheld, the event could be moved to a different road.

He said: “This event draws in thousands of people to the town and it helps regenerate the town centre."

See this week's Braintree and Witham Times for the full story.