A playing field that has been protected from development in a pioneering land deal could set an example in the fight to save the British countryside, campaigners said today.

Protesters gathered at Sweyne Park playing field in Rayleigh today, the only playing field in the country to be given permanent protection from development.

Members of the National Playing Fields Association (NPFA) were in town to launch a £5 million campaign and drum up support for their fight to keep the countryside green.

The group is protesting against the amount of open space which falls victim to the dreaded bulldozer.

It comes at a time when the Essex structure plan for the next ten years is being discussed - a plan which could see 70,000 new homes built in the county.

Playing fields across Essex are being sold off for housing to boost council and school funds.

But Rochford District Council is the only authority in the country to have struck a deal with the NPFA - meaning the Sweyne Park site is safe from the diggers.

Elsa Davies, NPFA director, said: "The site was handed over to the association for a nominal cost - like £1 - in return for it to be given lifelong protection. We now own the field, but the council manages it and comes to the NPFA for technical advice.

"This is a very special field which is why we chose to launch our campaign here. The field is protected forever for the people of Rayleigh.

"Rayleigh is the only site in the country which has this protection. That is what we want to change. We are trying to raise awareness through this campaign to set up this sort of deal in other parts of the country."

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