Protesters are gearing up to fight proposals to stage GM crop trials on a farm at Weeley.

Around 100 people packed into Tendring Council offices in the village to draw up battle lines against the trials to be carried out at Weeley Lodge.

Farm-scale evaluations on GM Maize have also been approved for Sunnymead Farm in Wivenhoe.

Former Tendring district councillor Brenda Rooney - who organised Friday night's meeting - said the response was excellent and the message from protestors was very clear.

"Obviously we had people from outside the village attending as well and everyone was of the same feeling - we do not want these trials," she said.

Published Saturday, April 6, 2002