Hands are being outstretched across the River Thames to unite the people of Gravesham and Thurrock, as their lives are turned upside down because of the planned new crossing.

The Thames Crossing Proposals Facebook group, which is opposing any crossing in Thurrock or Gravesham, has almost 9,000 members.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Matt Jackson said: “We will continue to stand as a united voice against Option C – and any variants of it.”

A petition to stop a new Thames Crossing being built in the area has more than 6,600 signatures after only a couple of weeks.

While Gravesham’s MP Adam Holloway is determined to fight against the proposals, the same cannot be said for Thurrock’s.

George Abbott, 32, who lives in Orsett, Essex, is directly in the path of the new road proposals. If approved, he faces a Compulsory Purchase Order and having his house bulldozed.

The married father-of-two wrote to his MP, Jackie Doyle-Price, for her support but she said the “battle has already been lost”, adding: “The crossing is coming and I am not going to raise expectations.

“Any one who does is being irresponsible.”