COLCHESTER'S Colne Housing Society has appointed two new housing officers to take responsibility for its homes in key locations in Colchester and Clacton.

COLCHESTER'S Colne Housing Society has appointed two new housing officers to take responsibility for its homes in key locations in Colchester and Clacton.

Clare Bennett, who becomes Colchester housing officer, has been promoted to the position and will take responsibility for Colne Housing property in New Town and the Hythe. She will deal with issues ranging from anti-social behaviour to car parking problems and house maintenance.

Ms Bennett, who is Colchester-born and a former pupil at St Benedict School, previously worked for two years in Colne Housing's customer services department.

She described her promotion as “a great thrill”.

“I see it as an exciting extension of my work with customer care at Colne Housing where I so much enjoyed dealing directly with our customers,” she said.

The new Clacton housing officer is Karen Embleton, one of two Colne housing officers in the town. She also covers parts of Colchester.

Ms Embleton, of Tollesbury, near Maldon, brings more than 10 years' experience as a housing officer for local authorities and other housing associations to the role. She has a BSc in housing studies and is a certified practitioner for the Chartered Institute of Housing.

She took up a temporary position at Colne Housing in June.

Chief executive Mark Powell Davies said: “Karen and Clare bring with them to these posts many years of experience of working with people and an enthusiastic commitment to social housing. We're sure they will make valuable members of the expanding Colne team.”