The never-say-die British Bulldog Spirit which won the war is being revived to fight the Battle of North Weald.

Residents, RAF veterans and tenants are united against any move the close the former Battle of Britain HQ.

Preliminary talks have already taken place between an Epping Forest District Council team headed by chief executive John Burgess and the four main leaseholders, Intrepid Aviation, North Weald Flying Services, Aces High and the Jet Centre.

Now the aviation operators are drawing up detailed proposals to put to officials on Tuesday, July 13.

Intrepid Aviation boss Brendan Walsh said: "We're all very concerned about what's going to happen but we think the airfield has a viable future in which aviation goes hand-in-hand with some commercial development and housing but not enough to swamp North Weald.

"For our part, we have had to put our businesses on hold for 18 months while this consultation process took place. We're all employers and we're concerned about the future for our employees as well.

"We've got a large investment at North Weald and we want to be in the position to invest more."

County Councillor Ian Abbey, who lives in the village, stood down from the district council at the May elections but the parish council is seeking his co-option back on to the working group considering the airfield's future because of his knowledge of the subject.

He said: "I want North Weald to remain as a working airfield and I believe we can make it pay. It's a heritage site and played a vital part in the Battle of Britain and we must fight to ensure flying continues."

Cllr Abbey pointed to another key wartime airfield, RAF West Malling in Kent, which has been lost to housing and commercial development.

Parish council chairman Bob Wood fears there will be pressure for housing. "It's not because of local demand but from people who want to move to the area," he said.

Airfield museum chairman Arthur Moreton, who has been connected with the site for nearly 40 years, said: "I'm aware of the past and the impact the airfield has had on the village since 1916 but I'm also prepared to fight for the future."

Mr Moreton, a parish councillor and member of the working party, added: "There must be a compromise, however, and we must find a way of getting a return from the airfield."

Veterans in Ongar and North Weald Royal Airforce Association branch, who meet there monthly, are also falling in to join the battle to retain flying.

Chairman Spencer Brown, 83, a former bomber gunner who spent four years as a prisoner after being shot down over Germany, said: "The field has a great nostalgic significance for us but we're convinced it also has a future."

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