THE Government has admitted it misled Basildon residents in Parliament.

Last month the Echo reported on plans to open a small bail hostel in Vange, which have since been scrapped.

Before the decision a row erupted between local Tories, including Billericay MP John Baron, and the Government supported by Basildon MP Angela Smith.

In a Parliamentary debate Mr Baron was told by Justice Minister David Hanson that Basildon's Tory-run council did not object to the proposals and failed to use an official veto against the scheme.

Now Mr Hanson has written to Mr Baron accepting he got it wrong.

Mr Baron said: "The letter now accepts that the council "does not have an open veto on addresses" and "did object to the proposed addresses".

Full story in tomoorow's Echo.