Officials have decided provisionally to grant an environmental permit to the controversial King's Lynn incinerator.

The Environment Agency said it had come to the decision after considering comments from members of the public and other organisations about the plant.

A consultation on its draft decision started yesterday and is expected to run until May 16. It will ask whether there is anything missing or inaccurate in its draft decision document and whether any new information has become available since the first consultation between July and September last year.

There will also be a public question and answer session at South Lynn Community Centre, in St Michael's Road, on Monday (3.30 - 8.30pm).

Kevin Rutterford, the EA's manager for Norfolk, said: 'We welcome the community to come along and talk to us to discuss our draft decision document. We'd like to hear their thoughts and concerns on the proposed plant and discuss our role as a result of this draft decision.'

Visitors will be able to view the draft decision and speak to local and national EA officers.