A petition signed by more than 11,000 people who are against the dredging of the Goodwin Sands has been hand delivered to Downing Street.

Amanda Mount, Fiona Punter and Joanna Thomson from the Save Our Sands campaign group delivered the petition for the attention of Prime Minister Theresa May with MP Charlie Elphicke on Monday.

Mrs Thomson said: “It was a surreal moment, standing outside that famous black door with the petition in my hand.

“I was really proud of what Goodwin Sands SOS has achieved through sheer hard work and the support of many thousands of people.

“We hope that the government will take this issue seriously now and discuss the implications of the proposed dredging in full with the Marine Management Organisation. We also hope that they will listen to the concerns of so many people and not grant Dover Harbour Board permission to dredge the precious Goodwin Sands.”

Dover Harbour Board hopes to dig up 2.5 million cubic metres for materials to use in its £120 million Dover Western Docks Revival project.

Their licence application was submitted to the MMO in mid-May with the completed environmental statement and supporting impact studies.

Following the statutory 42-day consultation period which began in June, the MMO requested further information and Dover Harbour Board says it has provided this.

Campaigners are concerned about archaeological sites such as shipwrecks, the graves of mariners and Battle of Britain pilots.

Dover Harbour Board has said in the event of the licence being granted best practice procedures will be employed throughout the dredge periods.

Dover and Deal MP Charlie Elphicke said: “This sand will be used to help make a major project at Dover harbour – which will be of massive benefit to our community.

“Yet more than 11,000 people who have signed the petition have real concerns over the plans.

“The MMO must take these concerns seriously and look into them closely.

“All options must be explored before a decision is made.”

Dover Harbour Board has been approached for a comment.

To respond to the consultation which runs until November 16 email: marine.consents@marinemanagement.org.uk quoting reference MLA/2016/00227.

The SOS petition is at http://tinyurl.com/jgud65a