Worshippers are wrestling with plans to move their 1,000-year-old Eastwood church to fit in with Southend Airport's multi-million pound development scheme.

Many aim to fight the controversial proposals affecting St Laurence's Church in Eastwoodbury Lane, Eastwood, every inch of the way, a snapshot Echo survey yesterday revealed.

Church member Dorothy Acton, of Eastwood Park Road, Leigh, whose late husband is buried in the churchyard, is spearheading the Don't Move St Laurence's Church campaign.

She has already collected 5,000 signatures for a petition against the plans, and said: "We will use this as a back up. I have also been encouraging everyone to write to Southend Council and to the church council.

"I told English Heritage about it, and I have been asked to give a report to the annual general meeting of worshippers on March 17. They can't move a church that's 1,000 years old."

Southend Airport has launched a £6m expansion plan, promising 3,000 new jobs, but its scheme includes creating a 450 metre safety buffer zone at the end of the runway.

To achieve this, St Laurence's Church, built in the 11th Century just after the Norman conquest, would have to be moved 150 yards.

Airport director Roger Campbell warned that the airport could face closure if its expansion plans failed.

This could then hit the jobs of 1,500 people who work for the 45 different companies at the airport.

Meanwhile the majority of congregation members at St Laurence's Church are against attempts to move their 1,000-year-old church for the benefit of a 50-year-old airport, and felt there must be an alternative.

Rosemary Giles, of Whitehouse Road, Eastwood, said: "I just feel very strongly about this. I don't think they should move it. I think it's wrong, not just for the historic reason, but also the church itself."

Published Monday January 14, 2002