A Newton Abbot homeowner barred from her flat for an unprecedented third time because of persistent anti-social behaviour has been told to steer clear of the place for a further three months.

On October 4, Dawn Lewis, of Flat 4, 89 Wolborough Street, was ordered by South Devon Magistrates not to enter the leasehold property until January 3.

It was the third time in little more than a year that Devon and Cornwall Constabulary had successfully applied for a closure order against Lewis and thought to be the first time anywhere in Britain such a measure had been taken in a bid to clamp down on unruly neighbours.

Previous court sessions had heard that the 46-year-old unemployed single mother had often staged drunken parties and that her friends were known for their threatening and offensive behaviour.

On Monday magistrates sitting in Torquay agreed to extend the latest closure order until April.

Neither Lewis nor her solicitor appeared in court.

For the police, barrister James Taghdissian called PC Ian Russell, of Newton Abbot Police, as a witness.

PC Russell confirmed he had spoken with Lewis on December 9 and that she had indicated her willingness to go along with the extension.

After the ten-minute hearing, during which the bench agreed there were 'reasonable grounds' to add an extra three months to the order in order to prevent further public nuisance, there was relief from Teignbridge Council's anti-social behaviour officer Andy Davies.

'I'm very happy with the bench's decision, it should give some peace of mind to Miss Lewis' neighbours,' he said.

One of those living in the apartment block, who asked not to be named, said: 'We'd like to thank Andy Davies and PC Ian Russell and their teams for their efforts, we're really pleased with the outcome.'

Lewis, thought to be living with family, has her flat on the market and is considering an offer.