People protesting against the planned closure of Canvey ambulance station marched through the streets to raise awareness of the issue.

Around 30 banner-waving protesters walked from the junction of Furtherwick Road and Long Road on Canvey to show widespread fury at the proposed scrapping of the station in Sydervelt Road.

Former Castle Point Conservative MP Bob Spink said the march had drawn attention to the closure. He said: "It is fabulous, we have had a great response, people were beeping their horns and waving at us from their cars.

"Canvey is just waking up to what is happening. They feel isolated in Essex and they need that ambulance station - they are pretty angry."

Fellow walker Stephen Castle, 35, from George Close, Canvey, brought his seven-month-old son James along for the march.

He said: "I am a life-long Canvey resident and I am very worried about the future - Canvey needs an ambulance station.

"It is going to put my family's health at risk and their lives at risk."

Taking to the streets - anger over the planned closure of Canvey ambulance station prompted these people to join former MP Bob Spink, centre left, on a protest march

Picture: LUAN MARSHALL

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