THE tower block homes of a group of residents have been turned into "a living hell" after vandals started two fires in five days.

Residents of Orchard House say they have lost confidence in their landlord, Orbit South Housing Association, to do anything about the problems in the block in Northend Road, Erith.

Since the beginning of this year, they say they have been struggling against a tide of drunks, drug addicts and vandals.

Now Caron Hart says many of the residents, including herself, are asking for transfers out of Orchard House.

She said: "My nerves are now completely frayed."

The residents blame Orbit's policy of placing single young people in the block.

Ms Hart said: "They take drugs, get drunk and have half a dozen dogs in their flats.

"There is drug dealing and loud music and shouting until the early hours of the morning, and the lifts are used as toilets."

The block's residents' association has also collapsed, with its three remaining officers resigning.

Ms Hart, 48, association vice-president, said: "We are fed up banging our heads against a brick wall."

Two people were rescued by firefighters last Thursday, and one was taken to hospital, after a fire broke out on the eighth-floor landing, creating dense black smoke.

A second fire created smoke on the same floor on Tuesday morning.

Ms Hart said: "We get two or three fires a week in the rubbish chutes, but now we are beginning to panic.

"There will be a death soon."

She added: "I cannot have my grandchildren to stay because I am too worried about their safety.

"A man on the eighth floor could not get out to work on Tuesday because he was trapped by smoke.

"The community room was shut because of vandalism.

"Older people cannot meet there anymore, and people are too frightened to let their children out to play."

She says residents would like to see CCTV extended to the upper floors and regular patrols inside Orchard House.

Orbit says it is working with the police and fire brigade to resolve the current situation.

Jackie Andrews, its assistant housing director, said: "Due to the nature of the situation and issues of confidentiality we are unable to disclose any more information."

She denied people were applying to transfer out of the block, describing it as "a popular general needs scheme".

Ms Andrews added: "We have been working actively with residents to develop the existing residents' association and support effective use of the communal lounge area."

She said a meeting of residents and councillors had agreed options for the future.

Ms Andrews also said the person who has been starting fires in the rubbish chutes had been identified and dealt with.