Laindon residents today lost their fight for lower council tax bills.

More than 50 residents applied to the evaluation tribunal in May in a bid to get their homes put in a lower council tax band.

They claimed poor maintenance of the estate by Basildon Council had reduced the value of their properties since the first evaluation in 1993.

The majority of residents had hoped to have their homes taken out of band B to band A.

However, the tribunal today told residents their appeal had been rejected. No specific reason was given.

Organiser Pat Denne said: "I feel sick -- I thought something would happen. Although they said the estate was neglected they did not give us a reason why they had refused our application.

"We are condemned to live in a badly built estate but we will fight on."

Basildon Council came under heavy criticism by the tribunal for its upkeep of homes.

Mrs Denne said: "The tribunal said that there had been years of neglect and poor maintenance on the estate."

Councillor Bob Sears, who supported residents in their fight, said they would continue to battle for lower taxes.

He said: "I felt that there is some justification in their application and although residents will be disappointed they will nevertheless continue with their fight."

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.