A referendum will be held this month giving residents the power to decide the future of the Port of Dover.

MP Charlie Elphicke is urging Dover residents to vote for the People’s Port project that will allow residents to become stake holders and stop a private company buying the port.

Dover town clerk Allison Burton said: "In excess of 450 people attended the meeting at Dover Town Hall on Thursday night, resolving to requisition a referendum."

The shared ownership idea has gained cross party support, and Labour peer Morris Glasspole also spoke to the crowds.

Mr Elphicke said: "At the end of the meeting there was a forest of yellow voting cards held high to support the People’s Port.

"Now my message to everyone is: ‘Vote and have your say. Power to the people.’ "This is the most important question which has faced Dover in decades.

"Now it is up to the people."

The referendum will take place at Dover Town Hall on Wednesday, March 23.

The wording of the question on the referendum will be: Do you oppose the private sale of the Port of Dover as proposed by Dover Harbour Board and support its transfer to the community of Dover instead?

The district council will run the voting which will be open to Dover residents only.

For more details on the referendum, see next week’s Dover Mercury.