A boatyard owner whose neighbourhood united to turn around its fortunes insists that developing a sense of community spirit is the best solution to tackling antisocial behaviour.

Earlier this month, William Martin told the Standard he was ready to sell up and leave Maldon, amid claims his life was being made a misery by drunks, dog owners and drug dealers abusing a small piece of land next to his home in Butt Lane.

But Cate Knox, who owns The Sail Lofts, in The Hythe, claimed taking on responsibility for the maintenance of the land as a community would be the best way to eradicate the problems.

Her stance comes after residents in The Hythe came together to transform and maintain Essex County Council-owned land previously used as a rubbish tip, with bottles, glasses and even dirty nappies discarded there.

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