Residents of the estate where Tia Sharp was murdered have spoken of the community's struggle to move on from the grief and stigma surrounding the tragic events of August last year.

Neighbours of the house in The Lindens, New Addington, that Hazell shared with Tia's grandmother Christine Bicknell told how their shock and anguish at the 12-year-old's death evolved into anger at her killer, then finally turned to relief as he was jailed for life today.

Hazell's trial has forced the community - which still sports visible scars in the form of his boarded-up house and flowers and soft toys left in tribute to Tia - to relive the seven days between her disappearance and discovery.

Elizabeth Leigh, 80, who lived just yards away from Hazell, said: "None of us could really believe it when it happened. The stepfather had been out searching all week and telling those lies.

"The community have been very troubled and I think now there will be disappointment we have not got answers."

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Flowers laid at The Lindens estate after Tia Sharp's death in August 

One neighbour, a 59-year-old woman who did not want to named, said: "It was the longest time. It seemed so much more than a week.

"The main thing I remember when she disappeared, the worst thing about it, was the kids.

"The kids did not get to go outside when it kicked off because it didn't feel safe. It was almost a relief when they arrested him, because at least then we knew.

"And it will be a relief again now as long as he gets a long sentence."

Another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: "It was total chaos. We had the police camped out 24 hours a day. We had to sign in and out of our own homes. The police brought us our post and our milk."

Hazell's now-notorious house, along with two neighbouring homes, will now be destroyed by the council in the hope of dampening the stigma resulting from the schoolgirl's death. 

Ms Leigh said: "I think it is a waste, because it will cost them a lot of money. But they say no one will want to live where the little girl was murdered." 

Another elderly neighbour said: "It is inevitable it would happen because it was a child murder. Who would want to move in there now? It is for the best."

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The house in The Lindens where Tia Sharp's body laid undiscovered for a week

Livina Ofori, 48, who lived on the same row of houses as Hazell, said the community had struggled to escape the shadow of Tia's death.

She said: "This place is not like it used to be. I have got a young girl who is 16 and her friends used to come round and sleep over all the time. Now they don't want to because they know it as the place Tia Sharp was murdered.

"I don't know how it will get over it."

But local resident, Paul Rowland, 44, said: "The trial has brought back a lot of memories for people but I think things will go back to normal once everything has calmed down. 

"The community is ready to move on."

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The Lindens in New Addington