A CRUCIAL verdict has been delivered giving a further boost to the expansion plans of Southend Airport.

George Pulman QC, Chelmsford’s ecclesiastical judge, ruled permission should be upheld for a section of a boundary wall outside St Laurence and All Saints Church in Eastwood to be removed.

The removal of 38m of the wall is necessary for Southend Airport to use its extended runway.

The verdict this morning follows the announcement yesterday that budget arline easyJet will fly from the airport from April next year.

For the full story see Monday's Echo.