A rally is being organised to pressure the county council into abandoning plans to dot Essex with incinerators.

Campaigners will hold the event outside county hall in Chelmsford on March 13 in the hope of persuading councillors to consider other options.

Basildon and Rochford's district councils have also joined local authorities across Essex to take their case to Westminster and gain the support of MPs and MEPs.

The county council claims eight incinerators need to be built, including those in Pitsea, Basildon, and Rayleigh, because landfill sites will be full in 15 years.

But local councils and environmental groups are urging the county council to consider options such as recycling.

They recently managed to secure a six-month deferment for an inquiry into the plans and have employed environmental consultants Ecologika to prepare a revised waste management strategy.

Speakers at the rally will include Ecologika, south Essex MEP Richard Howitt, and Rochford councillor Vic Leach.

The rally will be followed by presentations on recycling at Cramphorn Theatre in Duke Street, Chelmsford.

Basildon councillor Loraine Rossati said she hoped MPs would support the campaign.

She said: "There is no way we want huge incinerators in the Basildon district and we are sending the county council that message loud and clear."

A county council spokeswoman said alternative proposals were welcome and all suggestions would be considered.

To reserve your seat at the rally, which takes place from 10-11am, call 01206 383123.

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