Shocking scenes of a mass disturbance, described as bordering on civil unrest, were the springboard which eventually led to a student house in Canterbury being shut down.

Up to 100 people were involved over two nights of incidents on the green at Oxford Road – which included a mass brawl in front of police officers.

Resident David Chapman says he feared a repeat of the rioting witnessed in London in 2011.

The 52-year-old retired engineer and DJ said: “It was virtually mass civil unrest on my doorstep.

“Man alive, I’ve never seen anything like it. This is supposed to be the sleepy Oxford Road in Wincheap, not the Notting Hill riots.

“There was shouting, there was screaming, there were drunk people and loud drum and bass.

“The police turned up and then just sat there in a car.

“I went up to them and asked them to do something, but they sat there and asked me what I thought they were supposed to do. I said they should disperse them.”

Mr Chapman’s CCTV cameras captured the disturbances over two nights in late September – with the worst incidents taking place on September 24.

They show dozens of people, mostly in their early 20s, milling around in the streets and next to various parked cars before a police car pulls into the square.

Later a fleet of riot vans turn up and the revellers leave.

The incidents marked the start of a nightmare six months for Mr Chapman and his neighbours.

Canterbury District Commander Chief Inspector Mark Arnold refutes Mr Chapman's account that the officers "just sat there in a car" and explains they were instead waiting for back-up.

"We suffered so much and I just don’t understand why the police didn’t nip this in the bud sooner..." - David Chapman

He said: "Given the number of people involved, this was a significant challenge for two police officers to face alone, with no back-up and it had the potential to escalate.

"It is testament to the professionalism and skills of my officers that the situation was brought under control as swiftly as possible and with no major problems or offences being reported."

He also disputes Mr Chapman's comparison of the incident to the Notting Hill riots, instead describing it as "a noisy party involving a large group of young people" which caused a significant nuisance.

Last Friday, Canterbury City Council was granted a closure order, under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, to close the house.

It had been rented out to students from Canterbury Christ Church University but, on Friday, council officers, the police and a locksmith attended the property and changed the locks.

Mr Chapman and his family are relieved, but say they have suffered months of turmoil at the hands of the students.

He said: “It wasn’t just noise outside – there were all sorts of noises from inside the house like slamming doors and even howling.

“The noise was constant. We suffered so much and I just don’t understand why the police didn’t nip this in the bud sooner.

“To be fair, it’s been Canterbury City Council which really got it sorted. They were brilliant.”

Council officials used monitoring equipment and diaries of incidents recorded by neighbours to register the level of disturbance.

These included reports of raucous parties, drinking in the street and loud music late at night.

Julie Oates, the city council’s environmental protection manager, says officers had earlier visited the property and sent warning letters in an effort to change the students’ behaviour.

"This was a severe case that caused problems for residents over several months..." - Julie Oates, Canterbury City Council

She said: “This was a severe case that caused problems for residents over several months.

“We made extensive efforts to work with the people who lived in the property and persuade them to change their behaviour, but it became clear that legal action to force their removal was going to be the only way to resolve the matter.

"It is unusual for a case to get this far, because negotiation and mediation can often resolve an issue.

“However, we do have the legal powers available to us to tackle these extreme situations, and this case should be seen as a warning to anybody else causing problems with noise and anti-social behaviour that we will take action to deal with them.”

Canterbury Christ Church University welcomed the action taken by the council.

Pro-vice chancellor Helen James said: “We take our role and responsibility as part of the local community very seriously and worked with the council to tackle anti-social behaviour in private residencies to try to secure a resolution to this issue.

“We support the actions the council has had to take in this case.”

PC James Gall, an anti-social behaviour officer, said: “The level of anti-social behaviour displayed by these occupants has had a tangible impact on the community.

“Working in partnership with the council we have been able to tackle the anti-social behaviour displayed by the occupants of this address and send a clear message that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated.

“The action taken by the city council in partnership with Kent Police has resulted in positive action by the court in order to keep Canterbury a safe and pleasant place to live.”