HAPPY campaigners are celebrating adding the River Thames to the name of their community.

At Thurrock Council's full meeting on Wednesday, 29 January, councillors voted to change the name of Purfleet to Purfleet-on-Thames.

It was a move welcomed by Trevor Batchelor, vice chairman of the Purfleet-on-Thames Community Forum who said: "This is the first name change in the council's history.

"It had been talked about for nearly 20years by local residents and is the name Purfleet was known by in the late Victorian, early Edwardian eras.

"In 2004 a Motion to change the name was debated and duly carried by Thurrock Council but not followed through.

"In recent times more and more people have been saying 'What about the name change?' It was time to make it happen.

"In 2018 a petition was implemented through Purfleet-on-Thames Community Forum. Local residents and key stakeholders were consulted, the support was overwhelming.

"Additional support came from many councillors including all our local councillors and MP."

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A petition submiited to the council by Mr Batchelor last year led to the council setting up a public consultation to officially ask local residents if they wanted to change the name. The result led to a recommendation to approve the vote.

That happened on Wednesday evening and Mr Batchelor concluded: "This is great news for Purfleet........ Purfleet-on-Thames."