Protesters have threatened direct action in their campaign to stop 1,000 new homes being built on a "beautiful open space" in Basildon.

Regeneration agency English Partnerships believes the green lung in Dry Street is one of the only sites left in Basildon for new housing.

More than 70 residents, including one who threatened to lie in front of bulldozers, turned out at Woodlands School and spoke of fears of increased congestion and oversubscribed schools and doctors' surgeries.

Sue Sanchez, 52, a resident of Sporhams, which is near the site, said: "It seems that they want to build over every bit of greenery there is until there is nothing left."

English Partnerships, which owns the land in Dry Street, is in dispute with Basildon Council over the land.

The council wants the land to be regraded as a green belt site, effectively protecting it from development. If, after a public inquiry, it is decided that the land is green belt, English Partnerships will drop their proposals.

Rob Shipway, senior regeneration manager for the English Partnerships Thames Gateway team said: "We feel that Basildon will need to provide housing over the next few years and this is a good site to do that. We acknowledge that it is a controversial proposal

"We will be considering things like the ecology and open spaces and providing another primary school. We are in discussions with the equestrian centre about their future."