The former deputy leader of Braintree Council says the district's proposed housing plan has left rural areas "under siege" from developers.

Councillor Chris Siddal has echoed the thoughts of his constituents in Earls Colne who fear their village and other parts of the district have become an easy target for developers seeking to build new homes.

Mr Siddal says he strongly objects to Braintree Council's latest blueprint for future housing because of it's potential impact on the smaller towns and villages.

He said: "The importance of a good Local Plan cannot be overstated, we have to get it right as it sets out how development will take place for many many decades into the future.

"The current plan focuses too narrowly on the main towns and key service villages, and in doing so means that our beautiful villages like Earls Colne are under siege by speculative developers."

Mr Siddal also attacked the proposed Garden Community plan which could see three new settlements built to the east and west of Braintree, and another to the east of Colchester.

He added: "The answer is not to put all our eggs in one basket. Why should the kids in our villages have to go and buy their first house miles from where they grew up because it’s the only place the Local Plan provides affordable houses while our villages are left in a spiral of decline?

"Until the plan is fit for purpose, I and the residents I represent will continue speak out strongly against unwanted over development in places like Earls Colne, which the big developers see as easy pickings. It’s stretching our local roads infrastructure and doctors surgeries to the limit."