LABOUR politicians have written to a Government minister to demand answers on the future of a South Essex bail hostel.

The future of the Felmores bail hostel is up in the air with the Essex Probation Trust looking to relocate it.

But the Government is looking for private companies to run some hostels that house medium and low-risk offenders from next year – a move which could see less notorious criminals housed in Pitsea.

Both Gavin Callaghan, Pitsea North West councillor, and Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Tory Stephen Metcalfe’s South Basildon and East Thurrock seat, and Mike Le-Surf, have written to the Prison Minister about their concerns.

Mr Callaghan said: “The property was to move over into private sector ownership, this would mean the residents in the hostel would all be regarded as medium to low-risk offenders.

“This would go a long way to ease the worry of many local families living on the Felmores estate.”