THE owner of a dilapidated listed 18th-century building says it has become a drinking den and should be condemned.

Jimmy Purdy claims Brook House, in Maldon Road, Tiptree, should be knocked down because antisocial youths are putting themselves at risk by drinking in a building which he says is at risk of falling down.

“All it is used for now is for people to drink and steal from it,” Mr Purdy said.

“If something happens while they are in there, it falls to me and I don’t want that.

“I can’t even get it insured. No one will insure it for me because of the state of it.”

The building was vacant for more than 25 years, before Mr Purdy bought it in 2009.

He had planned to demolish Brook House and build a similar building in its place to be used as a family home for his son, Steven Purdy.

But before demolition could take place, a surveyor’s report said some of the building could be replaced.

He added: “What can I be expected to do with this place?

“Nothing can be saved. The stairs are dangerous, the walls are bowing and it is just a step away from falling down.”

Mr Purdy also questioned why Colchester Council let the building get in such a bad state before asking for it to repaired.

“It’s been like that for 27 years. Why, suddenly now, is the council saying something needs to be done about it?

“If it is that concerned about it, I am willing to sell it back to the council – it can have it.”

Colchester Council has threatened to serve an urgent works notice on Mr Purdy to make it weather tight, which would cost about £135,000.

To completely refurbish the house, which was placed on the register of listed buildings in 1963, would cost about £1.3million.

A spokeswoman for Colchester Council said it has no formal plans for the house as it is privately owned.