POLICE will today (Friday) ask magistrates to keep a Winchester drugs den closed for a further three months.

Officers swooped to shut down a property in Cromwell Road, Stanmore, in February, to prevent occupant Andrew Storey from gaining access.

They were given permission to close it down for three months after complaints by neighbours about anti-social behaviour and the discovery of cocaine at the home.

But eviction proceedings against Mr Storey have stalled and unless Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court extends the closure order he will be allowed to return to the address from Monday (May 11).

PC Rebecca Roberts, of Winchester Police, said: “It’s imperative that the residents – who [since Mr Storey’s departure] have enjoyed peace and tranquillity – are allowed to continue to live without the presence of this person.”