Work to develop a permanent all-weather ferry crossing on the River Crouch has been halted after the plan failed to secure funding.

The River Crouch Coastal Community Team, set up in 2016, wanted to create the lower river crossing between Burnham and Wallasea Island to help benefit the area.

Work began at looking at submitting a funding bid last year, but the efforts have been unsuccessful.

The plans were being supported by Maldon District Council and Rochford District Council with chief executive Fiona Marshall saying the “ambitious project” would bring significant benefits to the area.

But at a meeting of Maldon District Council’s planning and licensing committee last week councillors were told the project had hit a stumbling block.

As no funding has been secured the scheme has been broken up into achievable smaller projects.

The report said: “As match funding and suitable planning permission have not been obtained, this is no longer possible and the project has been broken into separate pieces, each to be funded separately.

“The Burnham-on-Crouch town pontoon previously secured CCF funding for improving safety. This work will now be conducted before the funding window closes.

“Additional extensions to the pontoon and work to enable disabled access will only be conducted if technically feasible and suitable funding can be obtained.”

A project to create a river crossing at North Fambridge is moving forward and an application for funding is being made.

The coastal team was created after Maldon District Council and Rochford District Council were handed £10,000 back in 2016.