MAGISTRATES have shut down a home in Poole after the council received complaints that the property was being used for drug dealing and prostitution.

The address in Churchill Road will be closed to everyone but the occupier for three months after officials at the Borough of Poole successfully applied for a premises closure order. It is the second time such an order has been imposed at the house in just a year.

A court heard allegations that anti-social behaviour, drug-taking and prostitution had been taking place at the the privately-owned property.

There were also complaints of loud noise from residents and visitors, while members of the public had been threatened with violence, it was said.

Councillor Karen Rampton, cabinet portfolio holder for housing and communities at the Borough of Poole, said: "Fortunately, in Poole, we don't often see anti-social behaviour on this scale, but where behaviour is so extreme that it is affecting the local community we will take action.

"We are pleased to have achieved this closure order with the support of other agencies, including Dorset Police."

As part of the order, occupants were told to change the locks on all outside doors within 24 hours of the court hearing.

Ian Cooke, the council's safer communities manager, said: “The property was subject to a previous closure order in 2016, but unfortunately the behaviour at the address deteriorated again, leading us to request a second closure order.

"Borough of Poole takes these matters seriously and works with its partners such as Dorset Police to robustly tackle anti-social behaviour in our communities.

"We now need to work with the occupier in addressing the underlying reasons behind the behaviours so that we avoid these measures in the future.”

Anyone affected by anti-social behaviour can contact the police on 101, call Poole council on 01202 633438 during working hours or visit poole.gov.uk