CAMPAIGNING mothers say they are “extremely pleased” after police launched a new inquiry into a series of deaths at a mental health facility.

The Standard reported on Friday that Essex Police has begun conducting initial investigations into deaths which occurred at the Linden Centre in Chelmsford since 2000.

The work comes after allegations relating to the death of Matthew Leahy at the centre on November 15, 2012, emerged.

Matthew, 20, was found hanging in his room.

An inquest into his death found there had been “multiple failings” at the centre.

The five-day inquest heard observation slots were missed, the ward was short-staffed and no care plan was put in place for Mr Leahy after he was sectioned on November 7.

His mother Melanie, of Tolleshunt Knights, has fought for an independent inquiry into his death and improvements to safe-guarding measures at the centre to prevent further deaths.

She said: “I was extremely pleased to think that someone was listening at last. It has been such a long journey to get here. "

Ms Leahy said she would continue to fight until she got answers.

She added: “It is too early to say what will happen.

“Of all the organisations in place to protect vulnerable people, not one of them has taken responsibility and tried to help me.

“I won’t give up, I won’t go away and I am not going to go quietly.”

Lisa Morris, 47, of Southminster, has been campaigning alongside Ms Leahy to get answers from the trust.

Her son Ben Morris, 20, of Maldon, died at the Linden Centre in December 2008.

An inquest jury in 2011 found he had taken his own life.

Lisa said: “I am really, really pleased but it is bittersweet. I am angry that it has taken so long and so many deaths for anyone to sit up and take notice.

“I hope that the truth comes out and that our questions are answered, and I hope justice in some way is done and this stops it from ever happening to any family in the future.”

Lisa said families continued to have questions over the deaths of their loved ones.

She added: “There are so many unanswered questions.

“Every day, however hard you try to put it to the back of your mind, there is a question popping into our head about this or that.

“The one thing you do learn along the way is patience.”