One of Basildon's biggest housing estates will be gone for ever by the end of the week.

The final remaining buildings of the Bluehouse Estate, Laindon, which once contained 800 houses, are being torn down.

A new £34.5 million replacement will be finished by the end of the year.

A final demolition ceremony will take place on Thursday morning, when representatives of the Basildon Community Housing Association and Countryside in Partnership will gather to watch the last terrace of houses being pulled down.

The project began in October 1994 and involved moving 3,000 people, many of whom have been given new homes on the multi-million pound Churchview development.

Most of the new homes, being built by Countryside in Partnership, are semi-detached with individual garages and large front and back gardens.

Safety concerns about this week's demolition work have been addressed by the developers.

One worried mother feared children walking to school along Rising Grove, Laindon, could be hurt by falling debris.

Mrs Brenda Emery, 35, of Parsonage Lane, Laindon said: "Children are going along that way twice a day to the school or four times a day if they come home for lunch.

"And then there are all the ones going to the pre-school classes in the morning or afternoon."

But David Everett, director of Countryside in Partnership, said: "The last section of the demolition work is adjacent to a primary school and every consideration will be given to the safety of the children.

"We have a resident liaison officer on site at all times for people to talk to about concerns.

"We have also notified nearby residents about when work will be carried out."

Picture, top: Angry mum - Brenda Emery examines the fence with her children Stacy and Ian.

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