Campaigners battling plans to build an incinerator in King's Lynn have been given a boost by a national trade union ahead of a court hearing to pursue their quest for a judicial review.

The GMB Union has announced its support for anti-incinerator campaigners and Michael de Whalley's legal challenge against Norfolk County Council.

Mr de Whalley submitted the challenge because he believes the county council did not follow the appropriate steps in awarding the contract for the Saddlebow development to Anglo-US consortium Cory Wheelabrator.

An one-day hearing is due to take place at the High Court in London on Monday, December 5 where a judge is set to rule on whether to proceed with the review.

Dave Dennis, GMB King's Lynn branch secretary, said: 'We've got involved in this campaign against the proposed incinerator because we had 1,000 members in King's Lynn vote against it.

'We expect the voices of our members and those in West Norfolk who voted overwhelmingly against the proposal to be heard and not dismissed by the county council.

'This is not only undemocratic but further highlights the hypocrisy of [David] Cameron's big society and claims to localism.'

Anti-incinerator campaigner Mike Knights added: 'We are absolutely delighted the GMB has taken note of what's happening here in King's Lynn and decided to come forward and help stand up for our community and West Norfolk as a whole.

'There's still a lot of hard work to be done ahead of the court hearing but it's great to know support is still coming in.

He added: 'Michael really does deserve the support of the whole community with what he is trying to do.'

Norfolk County Council awarded the contract to build the incinerator, known as the Willows Power and Recycling Facility, to Cory Wheelabrator in March, despite a borough council poll which showed 65,000 people in West Norfolk were against it.

Under the scheme, Norfolk County Council hopes to receive �169m of government cash using PFI credits to help offset the �500m plus cost of the project.

The trade union also presented a cheque of �500, donated by the union's London branches, to campaigners on Tuesday at the Duke's Head Hotel, in Lynn.

Mr Knights added: 'We are very grateful for this generous donation which will be used to help support Michael de Whalley's action in the High Court.'

Mr Knights also said a Christmas fayre is being held at Fair Green Farms, in Middleton, on the outskirts of Lynn, on December 10 to raise further funds for the campaign.

Norfolk County Council has always insisted the authority has 'complete confidence' in the process it followed.