A CONTROVERSIAL care home that made life a misery for its neighbours is to close after Essex County Council removed the young residents over fears for their safety.

Residents living near to the home for vulnerable young people at 23 Maurice Road, Canvey, have suffered noise, nuisance and disruption since it opened in May.

In June, a 17-year-old living at the home admitted assaulting a police officer who had been called out to the property, while the previous month another 17-year-old was charged with criminal damage after throwing tables and chairs around inside the home.

County council officers took the decision to pull young people out of the home following an incident on July 14 when two of its residents were attacked in the street.

It has been empty ever since and the council has now decided not to place any more young people there.

MItchell Management Ser-vices would have been free to keep running the home, taking young people from other councils, but a spokesman confirmed it would be closing.

Mark Brammal, 33, who lives next door to the home is looking forward to life returning to normal in the quiet residential street.

He said: “It’s fantastic news. It was a nightmare for us so its great that it’s gone. It’s what we wanted.”

Mr Brammal and other residents had been campaigning with Castle Point MP Rebecca Harris and Canvey councillors Ray Howard and Dave Blackwell.

Mr Brammal added: “I would like to say a thank-you to the three of them and all the residents. Everyone pulled together.”

Neighbour Peter Simms, 60, was also jubilant.

He said: “I’m delighted be-cause of the trouble they caused. It made our lives a misery.”

“The trouble did blight our lives and our property prices. Even if the children were well behaved, no one wants to live close to this sort of thing.”

The home housed young people in care aged 16 to 18.

County councillor Ray Howard lobbied at County Hall for the home to be closed.

He said: “It’s excellent news and a good example of how councillors and residents can work in partnership with the MP.

“We do need these homes, but we need to think more carefully about where we put them.”