MORE than 10,000 people have joined a campaign to save Southend Airshow.

A Facebook page called Save Southend Airshow, set up after Southend Council announced plans to axe the event to save £130,000, now has more than 10,700 ‘likes’ and an e-petition against the cut has more than 1,100 signatures.

John Delaney, 52, of Eastwood, who set up the Facebook page with friend Thomas Curtis, 29 of Southend, said: "Over 10,000 people have joined the campaign to support saving the airshow in just a few weeks.

“This is a clear message to the council to rethink their decision and look to make cuts elsewhere where there is more wastage and substantially less benefit to the local community, the town and local traders."

Simon Wilson, 32, of Westcliff, who set up the e-petition, said: “It shows that people are in support of the airshow and the council are wrong cancelling it when they could cancel other things.

“It adds a lot of revenue to the town and it’s a part of Southend’s history.”

The council’s Tory cabinet approved scrapping the May bank Holiday crowd-puller last Tuesday, proposed as the council tries to fill a £10.4million black hole in its budget.

The full council will have the final say at the end of this month, but the leaders of the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Independent councillors also back the cut.