Dramatic boundary changes have sparked strong, and opposing, reactions across Castle Point and Southend.

The mayor of Castle Point - which is set to lose its castle from the constituency - has branded the decision “disgusting” while Southend West MP Sir David Amess is looking forward to welcoming Hadleigh into his constituency.

The Boundary Commission for England published proposals for new parliamentary constituency boundaries ahead of its third and final consultation.

They would see St James and Victoria ward, which comprise Hadleigh, move from Castle Point to Southend West.

Brian Wood, the mayor of Castle Point, said he is disappointed.

He added: “To be honest, I am disgusted. It’s tinkering and we will no longer be Castle Point - we will just be Point.

“It’s very disappointing. They have admitted that the whole of Castle Point is against it and they have just ignored us.

“It’s tinkering and, because of population changes going on, it might not even be necessary in a couple of years.”

Sir David has described the prospect of welcoming Hadleigh into his constituency as a “great honour”.

He said: “I very much understand and support the Government’s intentions to reduce the number of MPs and to make the constituencies throughout the country of a similar size. The new proposals would create the new constituency of Southend West and Hadleigh.

“Hadleigh is a lovely part of Essex, rich in culture and history.

“If these boundary proposals go ahead, and that very much depends on Parliament, it would be a great honour to represent the new constituency in Parliament.”

The boundary changes would see the number of MPs in England cut from 533 to 501.

In Essex, the commission proposes to reduce the number of constituencies from 18 to 17.