Hundreds of banner-waving campaigners will converge on County Hall in Chelmsford on Saturday for the county's largest protest about waste disposal.

Activists from Ongar and North Weald will join groups from all over the county for the rally, which has the slogan: Waste Not, Burn Not - Bin the Plan.

It is another battle in the long term campaign to sink the controversial Essex Waste Plan. More than 10,000 objections have been lodged.

Thousands of signatures have also been collected for a petition against the plan, which leans heavily towards incineration as a solution to the county's growing waste disposal problem.

Eleven district and borough councils have opposed the strategy. Many of them have joined a consortium putting up cash to employ consultants to devise an alternative.

Among the protesters will be representatives from WAR - Weald Against Refuse - the North Weald group which is fighting any move to site an incinerator at the airfield in the village.

A leading member told This is Essex: "Apart from protesters from throughout Essex, we shall be joined by others from outside the county. There is a growing conviction that we must resist this crazy plan with all our might."

Speakers at the rally, from 10am until noon, will include South Essex MEP Richard Howitt, consultants Ecologika and councillors. Castle Point Tory MP Christine Butler is also expected to be there.

After the protest more than 140 people will fill the nearby Cramphorn Theatre for a seminar on the waste plan. This will have the theme of five Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Recycle Resources.

Alternatives to the waste plan will be put forward. Among the speakers will be Epping Forest Cllr Doug Kelly, of Fyfield.

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