FRUSTRATED developers of the Park Court site in Frinton suffered another delay after someone posing as a council agent forced contractors to stop working.

The Park Court site houses the crumbling Masonic hall, but the building has been abandoned for seven years and is now described as an eyesore and a deathtrap.

Site owners have been given permission to demolish the building and build 13 new flats, but have been hit by persistent delays.

The latest came on Monday when a malicious trickster fooled contractors into leaving the site.

Workers were on site to clear the brambles and overgrowth out to create access for surveyors.

Tim Christian, of Frinton Park Court Development Ltd said: “Someone came onto the site purporting to be from the district council.

“The person told the workers they needed a licence from Natural England to carry out the work and forced them to stop.

“I phoned the council and no one had any knowledge of someone being sent out, and we confirmed with Natural England that no licence was needed.

“Obviously someone does not want us to succeed here.

“We have desperately been trying to get this done, and it will be hugely beneficial to the area when we finally manage it.

Construction of the new flats at the site should be completed within a year of building work getting underway.