An impassioned plea for a traders' forum in a south Essex town has been shunned - leaving warnings that gang culture could flourish.

Campaigners for a forum in Corringham lobbied councillors and visitors at Thurrock Council's full meeting.

Their placard protest outside Grays Civic offices was in support of a bid by the traders and town centre activists to obtain formal forum status, which would include £10,000 funding, from Thurrock Council.

However, councillors agreed by just four votes to reject the idea.

The campaigners say the current Corringham Town Association, made up of traders and centre residents, has led the fight against anti-social behaviour in the town and should be awarded official forum status, attracting the much-needed funding.

However the ruling Tory group is against the plan, believing the existing Corringham and Fobbing forum is sufficient to meet the town's needs.

Stanford-le-Hope East and Corringham councillor Phillip Smith presented a 1,100 signature petition on behalf of the action group and proposed a motion calling on the council to support the plea for a new forum.

He said: "A vote against this motion is a vote to allow the few yobs and vandals around Corringham town centre to once again take it back for their own use."

However council portfolio holder for area governance Pam Pearse said she had considered the call for a town centre forum carefully but did not believe it was necessary because the town already had a forum and to create a town centre forum would set an unwanted precedent.

Councillors voted 24-20 against the motion.