Norfolk County Council has finally signed a contract with Cory Wheelabrator to build and run an incinerator in King's Lynn.

The council cabinet agreed in March last year to award the contract for the Willows Power and Recycling plant at Saddlebow.

But the contract remained unsigned until yesterday, as the council waited to find out whether the government would provide �91m of waste credits for the scheme.

The council says the plant is vital to deal with the county's waste, with the threat of fines for landfill looming, and says it will save millions of pounds a year.

But campaigners have concerns over emissions from the plant, with 65,000 people who took part in a poll organised by West Norfolk Council saying they did not want it.

The plant still needs to get planning permission, a decision which will be made by the county council's own planning committee.

It also needs to secure a permit to operate from the Environment Agency, while West Norfolk Council is seeking a judicial review of the Department for Food and Rural Affair's decision to award the waste credits.

• See tomorrow's EDP for the full story.