A politician is still waiting to find out if Parliament will hold a debate on solar farms after he handed in a petition signed by 600 villagers.

MP Brooks Newmark is opposed to the prospect of up to 300 acres of green space in the Halstead area being filled with solar panels.

Last month he presented Parliament with a petition signed by residents in Belchamp St Paul, Belchamp Otten, Pentlow, Foxearth and Liston.

Mr Newmark has also been meeting with ministers from the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG).

He said: “I have been trying to secure a debate in Westminster Hall and the main chamber on solar panels for the past month but have not been selected yet.

“I have now had several meetings with DECC minister Greg Barker, and DCLG minister Nick Boles and secretary of state Eric Pickles, all of whom are sympathetic and support the position of local residents in the north of my constituency.

“I only hope the Braintree district planners listen to what ministers have been saying on this issue and read the letters I have sent in to them from DECC and DCLG.”

The MP reiterated his desire to hold a debate during one of the House of Commons’ final pre-Christmas sessions.