A housing association paid nearly £52,000 in the last two years for legal and clean-up costs to deal with anti-social tenants.

Moat spent the money on cases including cannabis production, alcohol-related misbehaviour and barking dogs, all at properties in the Maldon district.

Cannabis found growing in a loft resulted in £2.762.20 legal costs and a £19,666.80 repair bill.

Two injunctions and a suspended possession order at one property for anti-social behaviour caused by alcohol cost £18,133.69.

Moat seeks to recoup the costs from the offender when it is successful in an anti-social behaviour court case.