People in Oulton have overwhelmingly voted in favour of a new Neighbourhood Plan to help shape the future of the area.

Oulton's Neighbourhood Plan was voted in with 85pc of the participating electorate voting yes to the plan.

In May last year, people in Oulton were urged to have their say on their Neighbourhood Plan, ahead of it being submitted for independent examination.

And last week there were 535 voters, with 457 votes in favour of the plan and 78 not in favour as a total of 13.7pc of the electorate turned out to vote in the referendum on Thursday, February 2.

The question: "Do you want the Broads Authority and East Suffolk Council to use the Neighbourhood Plan for Oulton to help them decide planning applications in the neighbourhood area?" was approved with more than half of voters saying yes.

An East Suffolk Council spokesman said: "Following referendums on February 2, residents in Halesworth and Oulton have voted in favour of their Neighbourhood Plans, and these will now be used to determine planning applications in the respective neighbourhood areas."

Of the Neighbourhood Plan referendum results, Oulton Parish Council chairperson Jenny Hinton said: "Oulton Parish Council would like to thank all those residents who turned out to vote.

"It was important to the council that we helped protect our parish for future generations to enjoy, and enhance our bio-diversity with the 'green corridor' enabling wildlife, flora and fauna to thrive.

"We reside in a most amazing part of Waveney, it is clear residents wish to protect and preserve our broadland parks, heritage sites, wildlife and views across Oulton Marshes.

"We would also like to thank all parishioners who enabled us to compile this plan - from leafleteers, those that attended our monthly meetings, those of you who had special interests and contributed to the compilation of the plan."