Angry MP David Amess has demanded that Leigh and Chalkwell be reinstated in a bid for £15 million of European funding.

The Department for Trade and Industry decided a week ago to drop Leigh and Chalkwell out of Objective Two - a European scheme aimed at giving a cash windfall to deprived areas.

Instead, the DTi opted to put St Lukes and Victoria wards into the proposal alongside Milton, Thorpe and Shoebury because it believed the bid for cash would stand a better chance.

A DTi spokesman said Leigh was dropped because when it was compared to other fishing areas in the UK which needed a boost, it was not deemed "significant" enough to merit funding.

However, Mr Amess, Southend West MP, said he was shocked and angry to hear that the seafront wards of Leigh and Chalkwell in his constituency were dropped from the bid.

He has written to Stephen Byers, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, demanding that they be reinstated in the bid.

Mr Amess said: "It really is not on to tinker with the bid after it has been agreed locally and nationally that it will cover the five seafront wards.

"Of course, I have nothing against St Lukes and Victoria and am glad for them but not if their inclusion is at the expense of two wards in my constituency. Surely everyone recognises that the fishing industry needs help now.

"Unemployment is high and businesses are suffering in those two seafront wards.

"I pushed for them to be in the bid originally because of the problems in the fishing industry and they are heavily dependent on tourism which is a major plank of the bid."

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