HARWICH MP Sir Bernard Jenkin says he will continue to fight plans to put up 110 km of electricity pylons across East Anglia, but admits it will be an "uphill battle".

National Grid wants new pylons to run from Norwich to Tilbury, but the plans have sparked anger among campaigners.

Harwich and North Essex MP Sir Bernard Jenkin has held a meeting with fellow Off Shore Electricity Grid Task Force (OFFSET) members to discuss the plans for the scheme.

The group fought against the Norwich to Tilbury plans under his chairmanship of during the last parliament.

New Green MP for Waveney Adrian Ramsey and Liberal Democrat MP for Chelmsford Marie Goldman have joined the group.

In an exchange in the House of Commons on Tuesday, energy minister Michael Shanks agreed to meet the group to discuss the best way forward.

After the exchange, Sir Bernard Jenkin said: “This is an uphill fight, but we want to explain how the Government can best achieve its decarbonisation objectives in better ways than the present plans. 

“Research by the National Energy Supply Operator (NESO) has shown that this can be done at less cost in the longer term and more efficiently by looking at high-voltage direct current underground cables. 

“NESO is now conducting a wholesale review of the decarbonisation strategy.

"We hope the Government also has an open mind about how best to get this job done.

“We are determined to make a constructive contribution to the debate.”