HUNDREDS of people have joined a campaign to get a parish council in Corringham – and sort out the roads on an estate.

Fed-up residents want Thurrock Council to hold a referendum about creating a specialised community council.

The 380-strong petition comes after residents from the Frost Estate aired concerns about the state of the roads where they live.

Despite numerous calls from the Frost Estate Residents’ Association to the council, no work has yet taken place.

Resident and secretary, Janet Deeney, 66, said: “It’s taken us about 18 months to get to this point.

“We had to find out the legal process to do this and now we’ve got all the signatures we need.

“If the roads are left for another winter, they will become impassable. There are temporary repairs there, but the problem is chronic.”

Stephen Metcalfe, MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, together with representatives from the residents’ association, recently met council chief executive Graham Farrant to discuss the issues around the estate.

It’s now expected that Thurrock Council will start the consultation process required before any vote can take place for a community council, in effect, a parish council, which would be the first of its kind in the Thurrock borough.

Mr Metcalfe said: “This is a fantastic step forward for Frost Estate residents.

“The residents’ association has worked tirelessly on this issue and I am delighted they are one step closer to achieving their objectives.”

No one was available from Thurrock Council for comment.