POLICE have succeeded in keeping a Winchester drugs den closed for a further three months.

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

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

But eviction proceedings against Mr Storey have stalled, so police asked Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court to extend the closure order until August 8.

If magistrates had not have granted the order, Mr Storey would have been able to return to his address last Monday.

PC Rebecca Roberts, of Winchester Police, said: “It was imperative that we got this order so 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.”