DEFIANT anti-expansion campaigners still maintain their fight isn’t dead.

They spoke after easyJet announced it would start flights from Southend Airport next year.

The easyJet announcement was a big blow even for the most ardent supporters of campaign group Stop Airport Expansion Now.

However, Kiti Theobold, the group’s vice chairman, said: “There’s still a long way to go, we’ve not given up at all.”

Mrs Theobold, 64, of Brendon Way, Eastwood, said there were still four legal hurdles airport bosses had to overcome.

She highlighted today’s hearing when a decision will be made on whether permission will be upheld for a wall of St Laurence and All Saints Church, Eastwood, to be removed to accommodate the runway extension. She also said the result of a public inquiry into blocking off and diverting Eastwoodbury Lane, to allow the runway extension, is due in August.

And the group is still planning to appeal against a High Court decision which forbids applying for a judicial review.

Mrs Theobold said: “The hurdles are not something that should be shrugged off.”

Meanwhile Denis Walker, 32, campaign spokesman, questioned the number of jobs being promised.

He said: "The announcement from easyJet that 800,000 additional passengers will create 150 new jobs proves airport claims that two million passengers will create 1,130 jobs is wrong.”