Plans for new electronic signage at Maldon's newest Costa have been revealed.

The new Costa Coffee drive-through is set to be built on Wycke Hill Business Park, in Maldon, as part of the major redevelopment of the former Quest Motors site.

The redevelopment was approved by councillors in October, after Quest Motors closed its Maldon branch in May - it had been trading in the town for almost a century.

Alongside the drive-through Costa, the site is set to include an autocentre with vehicle repair, MOT testing, a showroom and car parking.

Costa is now seeking approval for three illuminated fascia signs, letters to go on the roof of the building, cut out hearts and darts, a height barrier, a pole sign, an exit sign and two banner frames for the new branch.

It also hopes to add illuminated signs reading "pick me up" and "great coffee starts here to the building.

Councillors raised concerns about the drive-through Costa at their planning meeting to vote on the redevelopment in October.

Councillor Kevin Lagan said: "The independent coffee shops in our town should be given the chance to have something of this nature because other opportunities are not available for them.

"They deserve to have - what I would call - a premium site coming into the town offered to them.

"I think we're really missing out on supporting the businesses in our town."

Mr Johnson, a district council planning officer, said that, although he has "sympathy" with these concerns, "if a Costa is coming through, we can't say there is a threshold for Costas".

The Costa drive-through was given the green light as part of the council's overall approval of the redevelopment, which is set to create up to 35 jobs and further employment opportunities during the construction phase.

Maldon District Council will have the final say on Costa's proposal regarding signage on the site.