Neighbours who had suffered noise, mess and nuisance from a couple watched as the "nuisance neighbours" were evicted from their home.

In a tense atmosphere, Colchester Council housing officers and a bailiff were flanked by two police officers as they told Karen and Paul Nicholls to leave their home in Berefield Way, off Berechurch Hall Road.

The eviction came in the wake of a county court judgment made by Judge Nicholas Brandt.

The court order was carried out because the couple had failed to comply with conditions including clearing up rubbish and refuse from the garden at the front of the property; proper maintenance of cars parked at the front of the house and complying with parts of the tenancy agreement relating to anti-social behaviour.

Neighbours today welcomed the eviction as Paul Nicholls punched and headbutted walls as he left the flat.

People living in the cul-de-sac watched either from their doorsteps or from behind net curtains.

All were too nervous to be identified, but one said: "It's about time. I wouldn't normally want anyone to be thrown out of their home but in this case it's different."

Mrs Nicholls said both she and her husband had been ill and that she had a disability which meant she would be unable to stay at homeless shelters because of the stairs.

Senior housing officer Barry Udale said: "What we are doing today is absolutely the last resort, we've tried doing everything else to get the tenant to comply with the standards expected."

Published Friday, April 25, 2003

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