A fire-damaged home at the centre of numerous complaints about anti-social behaviour and drug use has been boarded up after a council secured a court order.

Magistrates at Margate imposed a three-month closure order on the two-bedroom semi-detached house, meaning no one is allowed to enter the property in Barn Platt, South Ashford, until February 7.

The home - which had previously been damaged in a fire - has been vacated and boarded up and police signs have been placed on the doors and windows.

At the same hearing, Ashford Borough Council (ABC) also obtained a partial closure order for three months at a one-bedroom terraced bungalow at Royds Road in South Willesborough.

The order means that only the tenant is allowed to use the property during this period – if anyone else is seen to enter the bungalow during the three-month period then further action could be taken.

Cllr Gerald White, ABC's portfolio holder for housing, said: "We have demonstrated that we have a zero tolerance approach towards this sort of behaviour.

“Both properties have been the root of persistent problems and nuisance to residents with people visiting at all hours, openly drug dealing and causing noise and intimidation.

'We have demonstrated that we have a zero tolerance approach towards this sort of behaviour...' - Cllr Gerald White

"These issues make people’s lives a misery and we hope the work undertaken to gather a case for these orders will reassure the communities that we do not tolerate it and we will respond with appropriate action."

ABC has secured the two orders under the ASB, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

Inspector Jason Atkinson added: “We hope this improves life for the residents who have felt the effects of this anti-social behaviour.

"This enforcement action was very much driven by Ashford Borough Council, supported by Kent Police, to tackle issues and the negative impact it has on communities and individuals.”