BEAUTIFUL parts of a village have been ignored in a long-awaited special protection title in what has been branded as a "kick in the teeth" for the area.

Plans are just months away to extend the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to parts of Tendring.

It would see the south of the River Stour given extra protection, including the waterfront from Manningtree right along to the edge of Parkeston, including Bradfield and Wrabness.

The northern banks of the River Stour, in Suffolk, already have the designation, and campaigners have been pressing for it to be extended to the Essex side for 25 years.

But huge chunks of Mistley have been left off the plans, including much-loved woodland.

Mistley Parish Council chairman Martin Rayner said: "The proposals ignore all of Furze Hill Woods.

"We had hoped it would be included, but it doesn't come inland enough.

"We expected it to come up and take in land behind Green Lane, Furze Hill Woods and the valley up to Clacton Road.

"There is a big difference to being in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and being on the edge of one.

"It's a kick in the teeth."

Mr Rayner said Natural England studied the area and said parts did not meet all the criteria to become an area of outstanding natural beauty.

He added: "Surely it does.

"It has heritage, relating to the early Rigby estate.

"We are objecting.

"We aren't going to get another chance to extend it every again

"It's taken this long so it has to be right."

“It was in the 1970s that the other side of the river was given AONB status.

“Tendring Council has been collaborating with Suffolk Coast and Heaths for a number of years for an extension. It’s another layer of protection, it ensures what gets built fits in with AONB policies.

“It will also mean people will be more attracted to the area

help bring more funding to the area.

Tendring Council has been working on getting the AONB title since 1993, and an official application was put forward in 2010.

Some inland areas would also be included, such as Wrabness Woods and land stretching up from the coastline up to 2km inland in some areas.