A newsletter, featuring the headline “Engine Failure” with an image of an aeroplane flying into dark clouds, has caused controversy in Leigh and parts of Southend.

The Liberal Democrats’ summer edition of the Leigh and West Leigh Focus is delivered free to 8,700 homes.

The latest edition includes a critique of Southend Airport, raising concerns aircraft may flout the strict curfew rules as the airport moves towards expanding executive and business flights.

Southend Conservative councillors for St Laurence ward, in which the airport is situated, have slammed the leaflet, condemning it as “misleading and irresponsible”.

Councillor Steve Buckley said: “This leaflet is an abhorrent example of a political party trying to tap into the very worst fears of residents in order to stay relevant and win supporters.

“We have a lot of residents in St Laurence, and I’m sure across the borough, who would be incredibly alarmed by the front page. I think it’s disgusting that they have tried to get away with this headline with no further context.

“It seems as though the only way forward is for Liberal Democrats is to apologise publicly both to residents and the airport.”

Apart from the headline, the article contains no other mention of engine failures relating to Southend Airport. Southend Airport has refuted the claims made in the article. No airlines have been named in the article.

A spokesperson said: “We have put a range of measures in place to ensure that noise levels and environmental impacts are kept to a minimum.

“We have always complied with the Section 106 agreement that was put in place when the airport was granted planning permission to redevelop.”

The airport does not permit passenger flights to be scheduled between 11.30pm and 6.30am, however the airport is allowed 120 movements per month at night for delayed flights, which the airport says it has never reached - or breached.

Chris Bailey, editor of the Leigh Lib Dem Focus, said the party stands by the leaflet.

He added: “When you read the article, you will see that it reports increased concern by local residents about passenger aircraft landing after 11.30pm. This was particularly the case last month when the leaflet was published.

“We are concerned that the number of these night flights may increase.”