CAMPAIGNERS have vowed to continue fighting against the controversial renaming of road names....despite the changes coming into force on Monday.

Streets on the Five Links estate, in Laindon, will be given floral-themed names, with a new numbering system also being introduced.

It comes after a two year legal wrangle

More than 400 residents successfully challenged Basildon Council over the plans at a Magistrates Court hearing last April - but their victory was short-lived.

The authority won an appeal at the High Court, which has left campaigners with a £24,000 bill.

Frank Ferguson, Ukip councillor for Lee Chapel, is now perusing a legal loophole - which he admits is his final hope.

He said the wording in the most relevant piece of legislation - which dates back to acts passed in 1847 and 1925 - makes it unclear if the council can legally carry out both renaming and renumbering.

Mr Ferguson said: “The 1847 act was designed to deal with the initial naming of a street not previously named, and the numbering of properties in such street not previously numbered.

“It does not have anything to say about previously assigned numbers, precisely because it was dealing with initial numbering.

“It goes onto prescribe penalties for every person who ‘puts up any number different from the ones put up by the commissioners.’

“Logically it can only be referring to the putting up of a number subsequent to the number put up by the commissioners.

“Hence, in the present situation, the number put up by the local authority some 30 to 40 years ago, in this case Basildon Council.

“Should the council now put up any different number they would themselves be in breach of this very law.”

Basildon Council believes re-numbering and renaming streets will help emergency services find their way around the estate, previously nicknamed Alcatraz for its fortress-like appearance.

A fundraising campaign was launched to help John James, 78, chairman of the Five Links Residents Association - who led the fight before being hospitalised by a stroke - pay off the £24,000 debt.

So far nearly £1,500 has been raised.