Ambitious plans to revamp a landmark building in the heart of Leigh no longer include a hotel, it has been revealed.

Proposals to revamp the old Bell Hotel in Leigh Hill as a "boutique hotel" have been ditched.

Instead, developers have tried to address the concerns of Southend Council by turning the landmark building into five apartments and one unit built for living and working.

But the changes have failed to pacify objectors, who say the scaled-down scheme, which also includes two four-storey blocks and one five-storey block containing 16 flats, is still too much for the site.

Lib Dem Leigh councillor Peter Wexham said: "I am getting a lot of complaints from local residents who have seen the plans and are very worried about the size of it.

"It does take people's views away, and it is still a lot of flats on a plot of land which comes out on to a very dangerous corner."

But the brains behind the scheme are confident it ticks all the council's boxes.

A spokesman for architect, John James Associates, said: "We have reduced the height and the number of flats on the railway elevation of the site.

"The views have been increased and widened, and the proposed apartments will all have parking spaces in the underground car park.

"It's a fabulous scheme, and it addresses all the councillors' concerns."

The previous application, to refurbish the hotel and build a single block of 20 flats rising to five stories next to it, was rejected last November, despite support from planning officers.

Developer Robin Levy immediately announced his intention to appeal the decision.

An earlier application, to convert the hotel into flats and build three four-storey blocks containing 18 flats, was withdrawn.

Anyone wishing to comment on the current scheme should write to Southend Council by Tuesday, February 13. A decision should be taken by mid March.