More than 1,000 neighbours of a controversial mental home have been urged to help put a stop to the centre taking higher risk patients.

A newsletter has been handed out in Bowers Gifford near Pitsea, advertising the next meeting of the Basildon Council east area committee on September 6.

Councillors will be deciding that night whether to grant St Andrews permission to increase the height of the courtyard enclosures at Clare House, in Pound Lane, by one metre.

If allowed, the £8 million nursing home will be able to work as a medium secure unit housing patients suffering from conditions like schizophrenia and manic depression.

Residents were outraged it won the go ahead from Basildon Council by being heralded as a nursing home - rather than a secure unit.

They have vowed to put a stop to St Andrews' future alterations to the site.

Karen Watts, of Bowers Gifford and North Benfleet Community Association, said: "We have sent out a newsletter detailing the proposal to increase the height of the fencing.

"Basildon Council sent out just 25 letters to residents living nearby - they have now had 200 angry letters in response.

"There will be an awful lot of people at the council meeting. If we have to turn people away at the door because there are no more seats we will be happy. That will show the council the strength of feeling about this."

The community was further disturbed by national reports on a "dangerous" paedophile who escaped from a St Andrews hospital in Nottingham.

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