Thurrock
Unitary authority in eastern England, created in 1998 from part of Essex.
Area
163 sq km/63 sq mi
Towns and cities
Grays (administrative headquarters), Purfleet, Tilbury, Chadwell, St Mary, Stanford-le-Hope, Corringham, South Ockendon
Features
located on north bank of River Thames; Holehaven Creek forms eastern border of authority; Tilbury Marshes; Mucking Marshes; Dartford Tunnel and Queen Elizabeth II bridge have northern approach through Thurrock; 17th-century Tilbury Fort, with three moats; Alexandra Lake; Lakeside shopping centre
Industries
oil refineries, power station at west Tilbury Marshes, sand and gravel extraction, cement works, soap, margarine, timber products
Population
(2001) 143,100
