A town council is looking to find 'common ground' with its MP after he offered to help it put together a town plan.

Mid Norfolk MP George Freeman travelled to Watton on Friday to meet members of its town council.

On the agenda was the development of a town plan. Watton's population has swelled following an influx of development in recent years but residents feel the local infrastructure is not keeping up.

Mr Freeman said: 'For too long Watton and Wayland has been treated as a backwater with too little investment in facilities and infrastructure.

'Watton badly needs a town plan to set out the town's needs and shape its long term development.

'I was pleased to sit down with the town council and offer to help them pull together a plan – and a partnership to help fund and develop it.

'Making sure we get a plan in place is vital to the future of our area, ensuring that the residents of Watton have a proper say when it comes to vital planning issues.'

Deputy mayor Stan Hebborn said it was an 'exciting and refreshing' meeting.

He said: 'We as a council can forget that we have got our MP there to work with.

'Watton is not to be wound down, it has to be progressed for future generations and the meeting with George was a reminder of the things we can be doing.

'We are going to have more meetings with George to see if there is any common ground we can work on together.'

Watton town councillors hope to meet with Mr Freeman again in March.