•Cage fighter, 37, spent the night in custody after being arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage
•Alex said he 'assisted police with their inquiries' in statement online
•Police taking 'no further action' on the matter
By Louise Saunders
Neighbours have told how they were woken in the middle of the night by Alex Reid attempting to force his way in to the Essex home he shares with Chantelle Houghton.
And the stress of the last few days was clear to see on the 29-year-old reality star's face as she left her house for the first time since the dramatic incident earlier today (Thursday).
There was no doubt the usually bubbly blonde looked a far cry from her normal self, with her downcast expression proving just how painful the experience has been for Chantelle.
Pained: Chantelle Houghton looked downcast as she left her home in Brentwood, Essex, with daughter Dolly in tow earlier today (Thursday)
Moving on: Alex Reid kept his head down as he stepped out for the first time since his arrest earlier todayBut ever the doting mother, the former Celebrity Big Brother star lavished attention on her two-month-old daughter Dolly as she prepared to drive off in her Range Rover.
Dressed in a pair of leather panel leggings with a black mesh long-sleeve top and simple flat sandals, the star was evidently determined not to let the events of the last few days get in the way of her mothering duties.
With little Dolly in tow, Chantelle made her way to a local branch of Mothercare, where she picked up a birthday present ahead of taking her little one to a party later in the afternoon.
Stressed: The worry of the past few days was evident on Chantelle's face as she stepped out for the first time since Alex Reid's arrest
Doting: Chantelle put on a brave face as she took little Dolly to a birthday party this afternoon And despite putting on a brave face for the sake of her daughter, it was abundantly clear the main worry on Chantelle's mind was the state of her relationship.
Alex also stepped out for the first time this afternoon, and made sure to keep his head down as he wandered through the streets on his mobile phone while attempting to shield his face with a baseball cap.
The 37-year-old cage fighter was arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage at the couple's home in the early hours of yesterday morning (Wednesday) after local residents awoke to a 'screaming' commotion between the pair.
One neighbour told the Daily Star: 'I could hear a man shouting and when I looked out I saw Alex Reid.
Released without charge: Police have decided to take no further action after being called to the Essex home Alex Reid shares with Chantelle Houghton in the early hours of yesterday morning 'He was screaming, "Let me in, f***ing let me in.’ Other people living in the street must have woken up because I saw a few lights go on".'
Meanwhile, another neighbour near the couple's home in Brentwood, Essex, admitted to finding the incident 'quite frightening'.
She added: 'I’m used to them making noise late at night but I only usually hear cars coming back and forth and sometimes a bit of loud talking.
'This time I heard banging and lots of shouting. I live on my own so it was quite frightening.'
No comment: Alex Reid posted a statement about the incident on his official website Alex has since been released by Essex Police without charge.
In a statement on his official website, he said: 'In the early hours of this morning Alex was arrested at the address he shares with his partner, Chantelle Houghton after she called police following a disturbance.
'The reasons for Alex’s arrest have been widely publicised and in some cases inaccurate and based on conjecture.
'Alex considers this a private matter and therefore is not prepared to comment on it save to say that he assisted police with their inquiries and following that, the police have taken no further action.'
Questions: Police were spotted leaving Alex and Chantelle's Essex home yesterday afternoon (Wednesday)Police arrested the reality star at 1.30am yesterday morning 'on suspicion of criminal damage and using violence to secure entry'.
A spokesperson for Essex Police told MailOnline: 'Police were contacted just before 1.30am this morning with reports of a disturbance at a property in Spital Lane, Brentwood.
'A 37-year old man from Brentwood was arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and using violence to secure entry, and is currently in police custody.'
In recent weeks, the couple have made no secret of the fact their relationship has been under strain following the birth of their 11-week-old daughter, Dolly, in June.
Chantelle told the new issue of OK! magazine: 'Things have been really strained. There's never a day without drama.'
Testing times: Chantelle and Alex have made no secret of the fact that their 16-month relationship is somewhat turbulent at present In an interview with New! magazine this week, Alex admitted he had made mistakes in his relationship with Chantelle:
He said: 'I’m doing everything in my power to make it work. I’ve made bad mistakes and choices.'
The couple have been dating for 16 months, and have run into several problems throughout the course of their relationship.
Chantelle was furious when she discovered Alex had been exchanging private, but innocent, Twitter messages with model Amy Willerton - former protogee of his ex-wife Katie Price.
The former Paris Hilton lookalike also admitted she has also been upset by Alex being groped by a drag queen as he performed in a gay club.
A few weeks before baby Dolly was born, Alex briefly moved out of the couple's Essex home, and again left the property for three days last month.
New mum: Chantelle and Alex welcomed baby daughter Dolly into the world in June
source:dailymail