Residents living in an old people's complex due to be demolished claim the stress is "killing" them.

Shocked occupants of Little Gypps Court on Canvey said the worry of finding a new home was making them ill.

Many of the residents, in their 80s and 90s, have lived at the complex in Little Gypps Close, since it opened 15 years ago. Moving foundations have caused cracks and subsidence and a report into the state of the building revealed it will only last for three to five more years.

Julia Webb, 83, has lived on Canvey for the last 50 years and at the council-run complex since it opened. She said: "The stress has nearly killed us. It is making people ill. I can't see why the council did not make any accommodation available for us before they broke the news.

"A lot of us have lived on Canvey for years and we don't want to move."

Florence Bailey, 87, said: "They knew we would have to be taken out of here so why have they not got a place ready for us? We have got to wait until somebody dies before we can move in somewhere else."

Gwladys Mills, 79, said: "I think it was really insensitive for the council to tell us just before Christmas.

"We have been assured that we will get nothing less than we have got now but we are talking about three years time. We have got to face facts. Half of us are going to be dead."

Several residents have already moved out and others are expected to follow once vacancies arise in nearby homes. Conservative councillor for Canvey West, Ray Howard, said: "I have every sympathy for these residents and can fully understand how they feel.

"But I have been given assurances that every one of them will be interviewed and their concerns will be taken into consideration."

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