A CLOSE-KNIT community has held a street party to celebrate the closure of a suspected drugs den in their neighbourhood.

The semi-detached house in Clacton’s Fairclough Avenue was closed in July after police got an order from magistrates.

The order was upheld by a judge on Friday, a ruling residents welcomed as good news for local children. Beverley Young, 50, of Fairclough Avenue, said: “Everybody is totally relieved.

“I’m a grandmother to two small children who live on the estate and we don’t want that on our doorstep.

“You have only got to look around today and see the relief on people’s faces.”

Charmaine Brooker, 34, who lives nearby in Curtis Close, added: “It’s good, because a lot of children play in the street and we think kids are that much safer now.”

Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: “It is much better, I can sleep now. The atmosphere is a lot better. We can now move on.”

A a 35-minute hearing at Basildon Crown Court saw a judge dismiss an appeal against the closure order on the house.

Police had to persuade the judge class A drugs were being used in the house and people going to the house were nuisance in the area.

PC Danielle Bailey, of Clacton police, said: “The message at court reinforced the fact residents deserve to live in peace and not have this sort of drug activity taking place on their doorstep.

“There are a lot of families with children here and to have them exposed to that is not the best environment for them to be in.

“The decision reinforced the notion communities do exist, but people who participate in drug activity are not welcome.

“The party here today shows people want to be a community.

“It would never have taken place with drug activities in that house, because people wouldn't have felt safe enough.”