The chairman of an influential fisheries committee has pledged to fight to save the Leigh cockle industry from the potential threat of hand-raking gangs.

Cockle fishermen claim their livelihood could be in jeopardy because of concerns over licences being allowed for the hand raking of cockles.

They fear an influx of organised gangs who could easily destroy the cockle beds. At the moment, there are restrictions on the number of days cocklemen can go out to preserve stocks. New licences are being considered by Kent and Essex Fisheries Committee that would allow hand-raking of cockles to take place in the estuary.

The committee has argued that issuing licences allowing hand raking would be less environmentally damaging, but cockle fishermen are concerned it would open the way to high numbers of cockle gangs who could actually damage the beds.

It would also mean fishermen - who can work just 71 days a year to preserve stocks - could lose as much as a fifth of their income because the cockles would have to be shared by more people.

Southend councillor John Lamb, chairman of the Kent and Essex Sea Fisheries Committee, said he was determined to preserve the cockle industry at Leigh. He said: "I live in Leigh and represent the area on the council, so I know exactly how important the industry is.

"The major problem the committee is facing is that we only issue licences for cockle fishing.

"We are not responsible for the licensing of hand picking of cockles or gangmasters' licences, which come under Government departments."

Mr Lamb said there were further worries about applications for cockle-fishing licences coming from large companies, rather than the small fishermen who were the lifeblood of the industry in Leigh.

He added: "We have a meeting later this month when the whole issue will be looked at closely.

"I shall be working extremely hard to look after the interests of the Leigh fishermen."