FEARFUL residents are begging for help after another arson attack at their troubled tower block.

A campaign has been launched calling for better security at the Longbow flats, in Sherwood Way, Southend.

The latest fire, at about 6.40pm on Sunday, saw a pile of rubbish set alight in the stairwell of the third floor.

It blocked the only exit and caused toxic smoke to engulf the stairs.

Residents had to stay in their flats while firefighters put out the blaze.

It comes only two weeks after the entire block had to be evacuated after an arson attack on the seventh floor. There have also been numerous stairwell fires in recent months.

Lisa Heywood, 35, is terrified to be living on the 12th floor of the 13-storey block.

She said: “It is a death trap. I think there’s going to be a death in here through smoke, or fire, or a gas explosion. It’s a complete nightmare.

“During the last fire, the woman next door to me wouldn’t answer the door to the fireman because she’s so scared by the trouble we get here.

Miss Heywood has become so worried she will not let her 14-year-old son stay at the block, for fear she will not be able to get him out in time, if there is a serious fire.

Paulina Oraczko, 21, is pregnant and regularly visits her parents, who live on the top floor.

She said: “Everyone is worried. Obviously when you’re on the 12th floor, you get particularly worried.”

Deborah Wickes, 50, is concerned because her daughter, Kimberley, is living there with her one-year-old daughter.

She said: “I’ve been having to stay quite a few nights because she’s worried, and once a fire goes up in a tower block, you don’t stand a chance of getting out, and you’ve also got the fumes.”

Rose Watters, 34, who also lives in the block, is now starting a petition to try to get safety improved within the block.

She said: “We need more security in here. We also need more cameras. It’s the whole system really.

“We need sprinklers at the very least. One of these days somebody’s going to be seriously hurt. There’s kids in this block, and people do stuff like that which endangers their lives.”

PC Carly Boitoult, who attended the scene, said the incidents showed a total lack of respect for safety.

She said: “While the damage on this occasion was minimal, we take all reports of arson seriously and anyone with information on who was responsible is urged to let us know so we can deal with them appropriately.”

Mike Gatrell, chief executive of South Essex Homes, said he could not comment on the fire due to an ongoing investigation.

He added: “We continue to work closely with the fire service to ensure we take all recommended action to minimise the risk of fire occurring within dwellings themselves and in communal areas at larger blocks.”

He advised residents not to leave rubbish in communal areas, and to test smoke alarms.

Call police on 0300 3334444.