Housing association, Moat, and Maldon Town Council have announced ownership of the 130-year-old Warwick Crescent Allotments has been transferred from Moat to Maldon Town Council.

As a condition of the transfer, Maldon Town Council will continue to use the site for allotments, preserving a well-loved community space for residents.

By gifting the land, Moat has restored ownership to Maldon Town.

The allotments were owned by Maldon District Council until 1995, when the land was included in the transfer of council housing to Plume Housing, and both the land and housing were later transferred to Moat.

Maldon Town Council also owns and manages the Maldon Hall allotment site off St Giles Road and manages the Brickhouse Farm allotments.

Cllr Andrew Lay at Warwick Crescent allotments.

Tony Long, Head of Neighbourhoods Essex at Moat, said: "More than 2,000 of our customers live in the Maldon area, so we understand the great importance of these allotments to the community.

"Giving the allotments over to Maldon Town Council was absolutely the right thing to do. They're now in the hands of those who are best suited to manage them and can be preserved for our customers and the wider community for many years to come."

Cllr Andrew Lay, Mayor of Maldon, said: "The Warwick Crescent allotment holders are a great community and I know that the action taken here will help continue this allotment for the next 130 years and beyond.

"I am really pleased with this outcome and would like to thank the team at Moat and all the councillors and staff at Maldon Town Council for their encouragement and support."