HORRIFIC graffiti has been plastered across the communal corridors of a Southend tower block leaving residents shocked and terrified.

One resident living in the Malvern flats even feared the graffiti was “blood dripping down the walls” due to the red colour.

According to residents, the obscene language was scrawled across walls by drug addicts who have used communal areas of the flats for years.

Mike Smith, who lives on the 13th floor of the Malvern tower block, said: “I was just going out to post a letter on Tuesday afternoon and I saw this red on the door to the stairs.

“I opened the door and then saw it all. It looks like someone commenting on a friend and taking drugs on the stairs.

“You go on the stairs sometimes meet people and you don’t know who they are.

“They’ve chosen that colour and that type of paint to create an impression. It’s over about five stairways. It was a bit of a shock. I did think for a second it could be blood.”

The four Queensway tower blocks are due for demolition under a £500million regeneration scheme. The project, being delivered in a partnership between the council and Swan Housing will provide 1,700 new homes but in the meantime long-suffering residents run the gauntlet of drug dealers.

Mr Smith added: “I’m pretty sure this isn’t someone who lives here. It’s someone who uses those stairs to use drugs. Last time the council was fairly quick to send someone round to clean it but we have to pay for that in our service charge.

“We do have security guards but you don’t know when they are coming and they are unlikely to catch these people. People come in and use the stairs as a drugs den.”

A spokesperson for South Essex Homes said: “Our Caretaking Team aim to clear graffiti within 24 hours with our specialist products, however if the graffiti is stubborn to remove, we may paint the entire damaged area within seven days. In this case, the team was able to completely remove the graffiti in the first 24 hours.

“The Queensway Estate is part of the Neighbourhood Patrol’s patrol plan. They attend and patrol all blocks during the day and in the evening. They respond to reports of anti-social behaviour and remove individuals from the blocks when necessary.”

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