About two hundred people tonight supported calls for a £50m third traffic crossing with flood defences to built in Lowestoft.

A public meeting was held at the Victoria Hotel in which businessman Peter Colby outlined his ambitious plans to build a tidal barrage crossing, modelled on Dutch polder dams, over Lake Lothing and for flood walls linked to it to be built to protect large swathes of the town.

He claims his plans will cost £50m.

The location for Mr Colby's proposed crossing by Silo Quay is the same site where a possible new lifting bridge, which could cost up to £90m in government funding, has been identified in a Suffolk County Council consultation, which is open to the public from June 20.

Mr Colby said his plan would was the 'simplest and cheapest option' as it would allow for a continuos traffic flow and would also offer flood protection.

Urging people to lobby the county council and Waveney District Council to support his plan, Mr Colby said: 'I want the council to hear your voice.'

A show of hands at the end of the meeting saw not one person vote against Mr Colby's plans.

Bob Blizzard, Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for Waveney, chaired the meeting.