RELIEVED residents will no longer have to worry about the return of a nightmare neighbour after the council extended her housing closure order.

Deborah Campbell was locked out of her New Addington flat in Frimley Close for three months in May after several allegations of drug use and antisocial behaviour.

Police and the council's housing enforcement team took action after neighbours claimed she and her partner were making their lives a misery.

And during a raid by the police on April 22, crack pipes and other drug paraphernalia were found in the three-bedroom home.

A council spokesman said housing officers were awaiting a court hearing to try and evict Campbell permanently from the property for breaching her tenancy conditions.

He added: "The three-month extension of the original order, granted at Croydon Magistrates' Court on August 19, will ensure nearby residents will be spared any further nuisance from occurring during this period."

And Councillor Dudley Mead, cabinet member for housing, added: "The extension means people do not have to worry about this woman returning after the original three-month order runs out.

"The council and police now have a solid record of dealing with nuisance tenants, and others engaging in this sort of behaviour should be aware that they also face losing their home."