The company behind plans to build an incinerator near King's lynn has applied for an environmental permit to operate the plant.

Once Environment Agency officials have checked that it contains all the necessary information, an eight week public consultation will begin.

EA manager Manager Kevin Rutterford said: 'It is our job to make sure that this facility is designed and run in a way which will protect people and the environment.

'This is a complex application and we have to make sure it contains all the information we need to assess it properly before we can move on to public consultation on the permit.

'There will be lots of opportunity for local people and organisations to comment on the permit application once the consultation starts in a few weeks' time. We're going to hold two public drop-in sessions and will give plenty of notice about when and where these will be, and a summary of the application will be on our web site too.'

The AE says its role in deciding whether a permit should be issued for the facility or not, is to ensure that people and the environment are protected to high environmental standards, as required by the Waste Incineration Directive.

Norfolk County Council has voted to award the contract to build and operate the incinerator to Anglo-US consortium Cory Wheelabrator.

The company will also need planning permission from the county council to construct the incinerator at Saddlebow, near King's Lynn.

Public consultation into that application began two weeks ago and is due to end on August 3. Follow links above to find out how you can see the plans and have your say.