DRUG dealing teenagers are climbing over fences and leaving residents in fear at an assisted living complex, it has been claimed.

Residents in the Yantlet buildings on London Road, Leigh, have been left furious and scared as youths cause daily issues inside the stairwells.

Glass bottles have also been launched at those who challenge the yobs, residents claim.

Jill Goff, 58, said: “It’s been going on for too long now, it’s ridiculous. They accumulate in the stairways and are causing real issues.

“There’s an alleyway which they congregate in before climbing over into the garden. They need to put spikes on top of the fences to stop it, or extend the six foot fence higher.

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“They’ve been seen tailgating people into the building.”

Groups of up to 12 teenagers have been seen wandering the corridors.

South Essex Homes is “aware” of the ongoing issues.

It follows residents inside the assisted living complex being left without a functioning lift for months on end.

It’s due to be fixed imminently.

Mrs Goff added: “Where we haven’t got a lift, residents are having to get past them on the stairs.

“It’s really intimidating.

“It’s not nice at all when they’re smoking and dealing drugs.”

A spokesman from south Essex Homes, said: ““We are aware of issues at Yantlet, which have involved youths entering the block and displaying anti-social behaviour.

“Our security contractors recently visited the site and through them we have arranged for custom made plates to go over the door locking mechanisms to be specially manufactured and once ready these will be fitted to the doors to deter unauthorised access to the building. “The tenancy services officer for the block is liaising with residents to gather more details about when incidents are taking place, in order for us to target our efforts to deal with this issue, by deploying our in-house security team to patrol the building at key times.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and work closely with residents and contractors to explore any further necessary options to prevent future incidents at the block.”