A home at the heart of "serious and persistent anti-social behaviour" has been boarded-up after neighbours made complaints and police stepped in to help them.

A closure notice was served at 48 Homefield Gardens in Tadworth last week after the police and Raven Housing Trust brought the case before the magistrates’ court in Redhill.

The property will be sealed for three months while the housing trust tries to repossess the home in order to exclude the tenant permanently.

Sergeant Mike Mann, from Reigate and Banstead safer neighbourhood team, said: "The closure order was largely down to the hard work and dedication of PC Amy Dadds - this case demonstrates the positive impact local policing can have in a community.

"The purpose of the order is not only to help the community affected by the persistent anti-social behaviour but to send out the message anti-social behaviour will not be tolerated by Surrey Police.

"We will use all options open to us including hearsay evidence which allows the residents to give evidence anonymously to bring offenders to justice and keeping Surrey a pleasant place in which to live and work."

A spokesman for the housing trust said: "Raven always encourages engagement with our tenants to find a solution, even under the most difficult of circumstances.

"In this instance however, after all avenues were explored, we had to take action with Surrey Police and the courts to protect the neighbourhood from serious and persistent anti-social behaviour.

"We will now seek possession this much needed home in our community."

Anyone with information about anti-social behaviour should call Surrey Police safer neighbourhood team on 101.