EXCLUDING Brexit, the story that has generated by far the most letters on this page in recent times has been the sad case of up to 20 dogs being kept in poor conditions in a home in Chadwell St Mary.

It is therefore great to hear that the dogs’ owner, Abdullah AlHassan Chowdhury, has been hit with a criminal behaviour order.

Mr Chowdhury will be prevented from keeping any animals on a residential address, or run a business from a home, for ten years.

Neighbours, who talked of constant noise and the smell of putrid dogs’ mess destroying their home lives, will hopefully be relieved that the courts have intervened – but given his previous behaviour, will Mr Chowdhury actually take any notice?

I T is also encouraging that Thurrock Council has been granted new powers to move on illegal traveller encampments.

The whole of south Essex has been blighted by these uninvited, but sadly not unexpected, visitors to our parks and green spaces.

Everyone needs a place to live, of course, but it cannot be right that one section of society thinks it can set up wherever it pleases, be it a school playing field, leisure centre sports pitch or public park.

The rest of us wouldn’t get away with it for a moment.