A FAMILY say they have been driven out of their own home because their estate has been ravaged by antisocial behaviour.

Many residents claim the escalating problems with drunken behaviour and vandalism on the Four Rivers estate, Shoebury, have driven them to the brink of despair.

Sarah Harrington, 37, repeatedly had the windows of her house in Chelmer Way smashed by vandals while her five children were inside.

The last straw came when she came back from the school run last Thursday to find her house had been broken into and a TV smashed, along with everything in the front room. They were promptly moved to a hotel for their own safety, and have been holed up there ever since.

She said: “My kids are too scared to go back to the house. My eight-year-old said the other day if we go back we are liable to be killed. It’s not fair on any of my children because they are all uprooted. They have only ever known one house and one school.”

Miss Harrington and her partner, Ray Wicks, 36, now have just two rooms in the hotel to share with their family. This includes eight-year-old Bradley who is severely epileptic and has special needs.

Essex Police spokeswoman Julia Pack said: “We are fully aware of the problems at the Four Rivers Estate and are working hard with residents to solve them. There was a community meeting last week where residents reported real improvements and praised the police for the actions that they are taking.”

Swan housing manages Mrs Harrington’s house on behalf of Southend Council and spokesman Paul Hebden said: “We will shortly be in a position to give them access to a temporary house, which better suits their needs.”