PEOPLE living near a Westcliff flat they claim is being used as a brothel say they plan to challenge Essex Police Crime Commissioner Nick Alston over the apparent lack of police action to shut it down.

Almost two months ago, residents in London Road complained to police and Southend Council about the Ab Fab Massage Service, said to be operating from a flat above an empty shop in the road.

Since then, neighbours say nothing seems to have been done, leaving them still confronted by a string of men calling at the flat.

One of the residents, who are reluctant to be named, told the Echo: “We are intending to question Nick Alston when he attends a public meeting with Chief Insp Simon Anslow on January 8, but we hope action can be taken before this meeting.

“A crime has been reported, evidence of the crime has been supplied and the address at which the crime is being committed every day has also been supplied.”

Neighbours say they believe at least two women at a time use the flat, with an older woman running the operation.

The Ab Fab website is no longer working, with a noteice on it claiming it is “down for administration”.

However, adverts for the service on other websites are still still offering “English mature lovelies for the discerning gentleman”.

When approached about the operation by the Echo at the end of November, an unnamed woman who claimed to be the owner, claimed it was a legal massage establishment, licensed by Southend Council.

The council has since investigated the property.

Officials confirmed it was not licensed as a legitimate massage establishment and would be breaking the law if it described itself as such.

As a result, it is now calling itself a “beauty parlour” and the council says there is nothing more it can do, and it is a matter for the police.

A spokesman from Mr Alston’s office said he was unable to comment on the situation, as it was a current police operational matter.

However, the spokesman added the commissioner would be seeking a full briefing, ahead of the public meeting.

Chief Inspector Simon Anslow, District Commander for Southend said: “I understand that people in Southend want to see a visible response to this issue and we are in the process of collecting evidence that will support closure orders under new powers to deal with anti-social behaviour.”

For Mr Anslow’s full reponse on the problems of dealing with such premises, see today’s Echo.