An Essex village will be "absolutely destroyed" by 850 new homes, its residents have claimed, after plans for the development were approved at a heated council meeting.

Residents of Bowers Gifford blasted councillors during a Basildon Borough Council meeting on Wednesday evening (1 April).

As well as 850 new homes, the development will include a community centre, and the developer will make contributions of around £17 million to support the impact it will have on local services, such as schools and healthcare.

A projected view of the site

But security had to eventually usher fuming residents out of the council chamber after councillors approved the plans despite a planning officer telling the meeting the development was "inappropriate" and could "cause substantial harm". The meeting also heard that about 2,000 residents had signed a petition against the plans.

Resident Paul Medcraft said: "We are here because of the very real impact this will have on our home and our day-to-day life. This is not a small change; this is a complete transformation of how we live."

A spokesman for the developer told the meeting that the plans have been shaped by the local community. He said there have been "meaningful changes" to the plans, including a new village green.

"We are further committed to providing benefits by signing up to the Basildon First Charter, offering our homes for the first year exclusively to buyers in Basildon, directly addressing the 10,000 30-34-year-olds living with parents in the borough", he said.