The chief executive of an under-fire housing management firm has stepped down.

East Kent Housing (EKH) boss Deborah Upton decided to quit her role following a damning probe into the company's failings over protecting its council tenants.

Her departure comes after all of the EKH board were sacked in a collective decision made by Canterbury, Dover, Folkestone and Hythe, and Thanet councils.

A statement from the four councils reads: "EKH's chief executive Deborah Upton has considered her position in light of the four councils’ consultation with their tenants and leaseholders on taking housing services back in house as well as the recent changes to the board.

"She has decided now is the right time to step aside.

"We are working on putting interim measures in place.

"The consultation on whether to bring housing services back in house finished on Friday and a final decision will be made by councillors in February."

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