The founder of a Facebook residents' group with more than 17,000 members has decided to close it after being targeted by “vile abuse” online and being accused of wielding too much power.

This morning, the administrators of Herne Bay Chatter suspended posts and comments on the popular page.

Its founder, Nigel Hancock, says the role has caused him to be targeted by trolls on other Facebook pages who have made unsavoury allegations about him.

“It’s got very nasty,” he said. “Over the last 12 months, I have received some vile abuse from various people for all sorts of things.

“It wasn’t on Chatter, but elsewhere. I’ve been accused of all sorts of things.

“There are smaller groups around, which have been created by people who have been banned by Herne Bay Chatter, that have no rules and market themselves on that.

“There are things said on them that are libellous and damage an awful lot of people.”

Mr Hancock added that the trolling has had a detrimental effect on his mental wellbeing.

In addition, he says a handful of people, who are concerned about the results of May’s local elections, are concerned about the amount of influence Herne Bay Chatter has.

“There are one or two people in particular who are very uncomfortable with the unelected power I have,” he said.

“I’ve never seen it that way or used it knowingly, but they’re right.

“With the elections coming up in May some people are possibly quite worried about the impact Herne Bay Chatter could have.”

He also stated that he is engaged in a dispute, which he thinks is “potentially legal”, with someone about comments that were made on Herne Bay Chatter.

The page – which was regularly used by the town’s residents, businesses and politicians – was created in July 2015 and its membership has swelled to 17,166.

Its other administrators will decide whether to revive it on Monday.

“I don’t know whether it will be reopened,” Mr Hancock said.

“The admin team decided to think things over until Monday, but it definitely won’t be under my stewardship if it does continue.

“I hope that in some way it could be resurrected, but it’s a poisoned chalice.”