Essex's second genetically-modified crop site has been revealed - and it is within two miles of key nature habitats.

Residents and environmentalists responded in dismay at plans for a GM forage maize site in Wivenhoe.

The planned trial crop - grid reference TM 051 224 - will be planted within a couple of miles of Wivenhoe Woods and Marsh and the 125-acre Fingringhoe Wick Nature Reserve.

The map reference appears to refer to land owned by Wivenhoe farmer Jim Dutton, of Sunnymead Farms.

Mr Dutton last week declined to deny or confirm speculation the new trial site would be on his farmland, which is just off Alresford Road.

They say the farm crop near Wivenhoe will not exceed 25 acres.

But Pat Smith, president of the Wivenhoe Society, said: "An awful lot of people are going to be very worried and upset about this. Wivenhoe is not the sort of community that just shrugs its shoulders and says 'well it's going to happen', and quite rightly so."

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