A public meeting has been called by campaigners who want to stop Wickford being swamped by hundreds of new homes.

The Wickford Action Group is holding the talks after taking to the streets to gauge public opinion.

There are plans to build more than 1,500 new homes in Wickford - 600 in the town centre under the area's masterplan, 50 on Shotgate Football pitch, 624 at Runwell Hospital and others at Barn Hall open space.

Alan Ball, the action group's chairman, said: "Due to the response, we have decided to host a public meeting to explain the current situation with the developments in Wickford and also to listen to residents' concerns about the over development of the town."

Mr Ball said a lot of people feared many developments would look out of place, lead to traffic chaos and create flood risks.

He said: "A new doctor's surgery has recently been turned down on the Fraziers pub site.

"We fear we will not get services like this which are needed, and instead just get homes.

"We have been speaking to people in Wickford and found there are many who share our fears.

"We urge as many people as possible to come to the meeting."

The group believes residents are not properly informed about planning applications and so have not been going to meetings to object.

Tony Ball, the council's deputy leader, will go to the meeting on Thursday, March 22, which will start at 8pm in Wickford's Community Centre, in Market Road.

He said: "I will always go to any meeting held by residents. This is not something we would shy away from and it gives us the opportunity to explain the benefits to Wickford of the masterplan.

"Improved infrastructure is a shared goal, but it will only come from private investment through house building and the action group has not come up with any alternative funding suggestions."

For more information visit www.wickfordaction group.org.uk.