Bosses at a caravan park in Kent remain at loggerheads with the RSPB over plans to significantly expand the holiday complex.

The bird charity fears the installation of a further 91 mobile homes at Alberta Holiday Park in Seasalter, near Whitstable, will cause harm to wildlife populations at the neighbouring nature reserve wetlands.

Natural England - the statutory advisor to the government - has withdrawn its objection, so caravan park chiefs are are "disappointed" the RSPB is not following suit.

Park Holidays, which runs the complex, says it has mitigated the environmental impact and is confident the expansion will "not adversely affect the integrity of the Swale Special Protection Area (SPA)".

The firm wants to boost the number of caravans from the existing 332, by building on land opposite the park, next to Lucerne Drive.

Seasalter residents previously hit out at the proposals, citing fears the village could “become like Sheppey” if yet more caravans were opened for holidayer-makers.

At a crunch meeting in September, Canterbury City Council's planning committee deferred making a final decision on the project and asked the applicants to come back with new reports amid concerns the area's "priceless habitats" should not be disturbed.

The RSPB has since reiterated its objection, stressing how there is a "lack of appropriate consideration to conservation objectives" and raising fears over the impact the development will have on the population of curlew - Europe's largest wading bird.

The charity says the 91 additional caravans could disturb behavioural and feeding habits of the curlew, and have a "detrimental" impact on the area in general.

"Continued disturbance will lead to birds avoiding a site and potentially render it unsuitable," its objection letter states.

"Any development so close to a protected site, particularly one with such a high level of activity day and night, is inappropriate."

Park Holidays has refuted the claims - saying how it will enhance a foraging area for curlews, adding that the species "very infrequently uses the site".

A letter from the firm states: "It is disappointing the RSPB has not come to the same conclusion as Natural England as to the likely effect of the proposed scheme on the special interest of the SPA

"The advice provided by Natural England should be given great weight in determining the application."

The application is expected to be decided on by the council in the new year