'Project X of Essex': 800 gatecrashers cause £30,000 damage after schoolgirl advertises house party on Facebook

The party was thrown by the 14-year-old and advertised on Facebook as the 'Project X of Essex'

A schoolgirl’s Facebook-organised party saw hundreds of teenagers rip a family home to pieces and left her incredulous mother with a £30,000 repairs bill.

Despite the carnage at the house in Billericay, Essex, its organiser Sarah Hine described Friday’s events as “worth it” when revellers ripped holes in the ceiling, smashed a piano in the front garden, ripped doors from hinges and scrawled their names on the walls.

The party was thrown by the 14-year-old and advertised on Facebook as the “Project X of Essex” in a reference to the popular film Project X where youngsters throw a party that spirals out of control.

Her mother, Esther, had been present to attempt to keep “an eye out for trouble”. She said her insurers had refused to pay-out on the damage done.

“I am stunned - why would they do this?” the 56-year-old said. She added: “There wasn't supposed to be drink but the police told me they confiscated an unbelievable amount of alcohol from the groups.

“I just didn’t think this would happen.”

The family's bedrooms were ripped to pieces, furniture was pulled apart and thrown about the room and walls were daubed with vulgar sexual messages and foul language.

After around two hours neighbours called the police who arrived at around 9pm to disperse the crowd of around 800.

Essex Police reported no injuries to partygoers at the gathering. A spokesman said: “Officers found a large number of teenagers had visited the area to attend a party advertised openly on social media.”

Ms Hine attends the Anglo European School in Ingatestone, Essex, which said it was “saddened” to hear about the damage done during the party.

“We were aware that the party was being advertised on Facebook and advised the mother and daughter of the risks this posed.

“We regularly speak with our students about the dangers of social media and while young people from across Essex attended the event we hope our students will learn lessons from this incident,” said a school spokeswoman.