Residents plagued by noisy tenant

Hastoe Housing Association claims that tenant Lucie Ellis, of Alexandra House, Macklin Road, had been causing a serious '˜nuisance and annoyance' to her neighbours for several years.

The association told a Civil Appeal Court in London that it had received numerous complaints about noise from the flat where Miss Ellis has lived since 2003.

In May, the association started a possession action at Chichester County Court, accusing her of breaching the terms of her tenancy.

But the case was thrown out after Hastoe Housing Association wanted the case adjourned for two years because of '˜undertakings' that Miss Ellis had given about her future behaviour.

The judge said that it was unacceptable for such a lengthy delay and criticised the housing association for not turning up to court ready for trial and dismissed the possession claim.

But on Friday residents living near Miss Ellis were given new hope after the Civil Appeal Court overturned the original decision and reinstated the housing association's possession claim.

Lord Justice Mummery, sitting with Lord Justice Longmore have now sent the matter back to Chichester County Court.

Housing association representative Rebecca Cattermole told the judges there had been further breaches of Miss Ellis' tenancy agreement since the hearing in May.

She said it would now decide whether to apply again for the case against Miss Ellis to be adjourned or try to evict her because of the new breaches.