Campaigners pushing for a town council for Canvey claim they are being kept in the dark by the organiser being paid to set it up.

Len Barge and Irene Willis, two key campaigners for Canvey Town Council - due to be implemented after elections in May - are at loggerheads with Joy Sheppard, of the Essex Association of Local Councils, who is working behind the scenes to set up the body.

Ms Sheppard postponed a meeting on Tuesday to discuss progress on the issue because it was scheduled at the Paddocks centre saying she wanted to keep politics out of the town council.

Ms Sheppard has also declined to meet Castle Point MP Bob Spink for the same reason. However, campaigners feel the people of Canvey are not being told of the money being spent on work being done behind the scenes.

Mr Barge said: "The association is a funded body, but they have to be paid for the work they are doing. We have got to be careful because we can't go around spending money before the council is formed."

Ms Willis added: "We have been out of the loop. We have asked several times how much money they are spending and they won't tell us."

Ms Sheppard refused to comment when contacted by the Echo, but Castle Point Council chief executive David Marchant defended her stance.

He said: "The role of the association is to remain neutral and ensure there is no bias towards any one particular group."

Mr Marchant said the borough council was paying Ms Sheppard about £7,000 for her work, but this would be paid back.