DRUG police raided a council flat after 18 months of complaints from neighbours.

Officers smashed their way into the Colchester Borough Homes property shortly after 9.15am yesterday morning.

A small amount of drugs were found in the Harwich Road flat but no arrests were made.

An Essex Police spokesman said investigations into the property are ongoing.

The raid came after residents began recording incidents of antisocial behaviour more than a year ago.

Their evidence had been collated and sent to both Colchester Borough Homes and Essex Police.

One of the neighbours said: “This has been going on for some time now and I was relieved when the police arrived in the morning.

“There are people there all the time - and not just the type of people you might expect to see.

“We will all wait to see what happens from here.”

Mike Hogg, landlord of the nearby Oak Tree Centre and borough councillor for St John’s and St Anne’s, said: “I’m aware of the property and it’s been ongoing for a long time now.

“I’ve had a lot reports of things around antisocial behaviour well into the night so we’ve always thought there is an issue there.”

He added: “The first I knew of it was when the centre seemed to be surrounded by police.

“I looked down and my immediate thought was: 'Has something happened in the centre?’ but when I got down I could see where they were.

“There were about five officers patrolling the back of the flat and standing on the flower beds.

“All I could do was ask them not to stand on the plants.”

An Essex Police spokesman said: “A pre-planned warrant was executed an address in Harwich Road, Colchester at around 9.50am on Tuesday.

“A small amount of drugs was found.

“No-one has been arrested and investigations are ongoing.”

A Colchester Borough Homes spokesman said: “Colchester Borough Homes does not tolerate nuisance or antisocial behaviour from its tenants and will take action to enforce tenancies where there is evidence of nuisance.”