Controversial plans to allow people to live all-year-round at a Canvey beach park have narrowly been agreed.

However, the decision has angered campaigners who fear it spells bad news for the town's tourist industry.

Castle Point councillors battled over the application from Thorney Bay Park to change the conditions which restricted use between October 31 and March 1.

However, all-year-round permission has already been granted elsewhere on the site and planning director, Ian Burchill said: "Holiday caravans have changed dramatically in the last 30 years. Mobile homes now are much better quality."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.