TWO council properties which have been empty for at least three months have been vandalised.

The homes in Dry Street, Langdon Hills, have been ransacked inside with smashed sinks, toilets and windows, floorboards ripped up and insulation foam torn out and spread across the building.

St Georges Community Housing, which manages them for Basildon Council, has come under fire for not improving security, despite being alerted to the problem.

It is understood the properties have been earmarked to be transformed into eco homes by St Georges with developer Lovell, when funding has been secured.

However, in the meantime a metal shutter over one of the rear ground-floor windows has been removed, meaning vandals can get in.

Yesterday it had still not been boarded up, meaning anyone could be inside within seconds.

An Echo reporter was able to photograph the extensive internal damage inside.

Phil Jenkins, Lib Dem Nethermayne councillor, said he warned St Georges about the missing panel a week ago and it failed to act.

He said: “St Georges has a responsibility to secure these premises and I contacted them on Tuesday of last week to make them aware of the problems, but it is still possible to gain access.”

A St Georges spokeswoman said: “We are aware of the vandalism in Dry Street.

“Following a report of intrusion last week, we attended the site immediately to investigate and make the properties secure.

“They are both currently awaiting renovation and it is believed the perpetrators may have gained access by climbing up on to a low level roof at the rear and breaking through an upper floor window.

“Lovells visited the site yesterday and have made the properties secure once again and we will now be monitoring the security at the properties on a weekly basis until the refurbishments are complete.”

l Mr Jenkins is standing for re-election in Nethermayne ward tomorrow. The other candidates are: Stephen Foster (Con), Andrew Gordon (Lab), Kerry Smith (UKIP), X, None Of The Above