A housing association has backtracked on a ban on pets following a public backlash.

Last week, Moat sent out letters to tenants in its flats in Wood Road and Chestnut Avenue, Heybridge, informing them that they would have 28 days to get rid of their pets.

The announcement came after a dog mauled a cat to death on a communal green space and Moat also claimed there were problems with fouling.

But within days, the housing association had made a U-turn.

A spokesman said: “Residents will receive a letter this week to let them know that we’ve reviewed our decision.

“We will manage permissions for pets on a case-by-case basis.”

Cook Nick Holland, 42, of Wood Road, was among those to campaign against the pet ban with a page set up on Facebook.

Speaking of Moat’s change of heart, Mr Holland, who owns two cats and a dog, said: “It’s brilliant.

“Hopefully they will look at the case it all stemmed from rather than people who haven’t got any problems at all.

“Moat acted like a bull in a china shop.”