A CAMPAIGN has been launched to find Essex’s “lost” playing fields to prevent them being built over.

More than 90 years ago, philanthropist Andrew Carnegie set up a charitable trust to protect public green spaces.

He earmarked 900 spaces across the country that should be protected and 32 are believed to be in Essex However, no one at the trust knows where the fields are so they have launched a campaign called #fieldfinders to track them down.

It’s hoped people with local knowledge may be able to provide information to locate the fields and the trust can then give them better legal protection.

Areas of south Essex which are believed to contain Carnegie UK Trust playing fields include Benfleet, Brentwood, Chelmsford, Corringham, Grays, Langdon Hills, Little Thurrock, Purfleet, Rayleigh, Rochford, Shoebury, South Benfleet and Tilbury.

Douglas White, from the Carnegie UK Trust, said: “When these grants were made it was a significant sum of money for outdoor recreational spaces across the UK.

“We want to find as many of these as possible to ensure they remain protected.”

“With green spaces at a premium and many being lost to urban redevelopment, the campaign aims to protect some 3,000 football pitches, tennis courts, playgrounds and other recreational green spaces.”

Prospective field finders will have until August 31 to report back to the trust’s website. Every successful confirmed location will enter the field finder into a prize draw with the chance to win one of two prizes of £5,000 to make improvements to their local community facilities.

For details, visit fieldsin trust.org/Carnegie.aspx