A field of GM crops should be ripped up, a town referendum has said.

Farmer Jim Dutton decided to take part in a GM forage maize experiment at Sunnymead Farm, on Alresford Road, Wivenhoe.

Wivenhoe Town Council's opinion poll counted last night (Wednesday) showed 1,894 people were against GM experiments in the area and 159 were for them. There were 80 "don't knows" and six spoilt papers.

More than 5,607 letters were sent out to residents and attracted a 38.15 per cent turnout - higher then the last town council elections.

Mr Dutton declined to comment on the results yesterday.

Maria Iakovou, spokeswoman for Concerned Residents of Wivenhoe(CROW) said: "It is a surprise, especially in comparison with a similar poll at St Osyth. We expected an overwhelming 'no' vote but not one at 88.5 per cent, which is astonishing.

"This line about people not understanding what GM crop trials are all about just won't wash anymore. If it were true it would mean eight or nine people out of ten in Wivenhoe do not understand, and that is definitely not the case.

"The thing we would hope for, and the line we have taken all along, is that the farmer should pull up his crop.

"If the farmer decides not to pull up his crop, we will then discuss what we might do - knowing we have almost 90 per cent of Wivenhoe backing us."

A statement from Wivenhoe Town Council said: "The town council feels aggrieved the trial was allowed by the Government without informing the council and the local people first.

"We will now be pressing the ministers responsible to ensure that any future trial will only be conducted with adequate prior notice being given directly to Wivenhoe Town Council."

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