Campaigners fighting to save Frinton's famous railway gates are hitting back after it was revealed the landmark will not be listed.

In a letter to Frinton and Walton Town Council Katherine Rager, of English Heritage, said the Department of Culture Media and Sport, after consulting English Heritage, has decided not to designate the gates, gatehouse, station and other associated structures as listed buildings.

The council attempted to have the gates listed because Network Rail wants to replace the manned gates with remote-operated barriers.

Ms Rager said: "The level crossing gates have a local historic interest, but are not an important part of the country's cultural, social, economic or military history, and do not fulfil the listing criteria in this regard."

Terry Allen, mayor, hit back at English Heritage's claim that the gates are not nationally-significant.

He said: "They said they are aware the gates are significant locally, but not nationally, but I say boo-hoo to that because when things have gone on in Frinton with the gates we have had international interest from as far a field as Australia."

David Foster, of the Frinton Gates Preservation Society, added that he will keep battling against Network Rail's plans.

Frinton and Walton Town Council will now appeal against the decision and will send newspaper cuttings from across the world to English Heritage, to highlight the gates' international acclaim.