MORE than 1,000 residents have signed a petition to save Dovercourt tip.

Labour councillors in Harwich launched a campaign to protect the site after leaked documents revealed it could be under threat.

Maps released to the Standard showed the West End Lane based recycling centre would close and residents instead referred to Lawford's site 13 miles away, which would be expanded.

Harwich town councillor Garry Calver said: "So far we have had 800 signatures on the hard copy petition and more than 550 online - that's in less than a week."

But county councillor for Manningtree, Carlo Guglielmi said: "It's all been blown out of proportion.

"There are no closures planned and no consultation planned yet."