CAMPAIGNERS handed over a petition in their battle to keep Walton’s famous Naze clifftop from being leased off.

Tendring Council is considering handing over management of the Naze green space to Essex Wildlife Trust on a 99-year lease.

Council bosses say the move would help boost facilities at the Naze and lead to better management of the 45-hectare site.

But public opinion is divided over the plans and some residents are fighting to keep the Naze out of Essex Wildlife Trust hands.

And a group of residents handed in a petition made up of more than 1,200 signatures from people opposed to the scheme to make their feelings known.

Campaigner Andy Foster, of Old Hall Lane said: “In the end we got more than 1,200 signatures. That is a lot of names and it goes to show how strongly people feel.

“I believe the petition will make a difference. How can they go against this level of public feeling?”

Campaigners do not want to see the Naze changed and fear the lease could lead to restrictions being placed on the site.