FRIGHTENED neighbours reported screaming and rumours of a man jumping out of a widow.

A man died at a property in Tintern Avenue, Westcliff in the early hours of this morning.

Residents of the road have told of how they woke up to the sounds of screaming.

One 40-year-old woman, who lives on the road with her young family, said: “We were up at about 4.30am. We heard the sound of screaming, we think it was the police trying to break into the property.

“I thought it was someone drunk falling about in the street.

“My son woke up and was looking outside, he asked me ‘who has been arrested’.

“I thought the flashing lights outside were just a dodgy entrance light on one of the houses, as it often flickers, but then looking outside it was two police cars.

“The person next door said there had been a commotion, she was the one that called the police.

“She said the gentleman had jumped out of the front window, you can see the hand marks on there.

“The police were trying to get into the property for quite a while.

“They were around for about half-an-hour out the back.

“A ladder has been left at the back onto the outside cubicle. They might have used that platform to escape.”

The neighbour said there is a walkway at the back of the gardens between Tintern Avenue and Ronald Park Avenue.

She added: “It’s just shocking for us, we’ve only lived here for a year. We know it has edgy parts but now this has happened right on our road.

“We’re not sure if it’s gang related. We think it was about four blokes living in there.

“We understand that the people there were making other neighbours nervous that end of the road.”

Blood could be seen on the window frame of the property this morning.

Police cordoned off the home throughout the day, and the alleyways which connect Tintern Avenue to the other parallel residential streets in the area.

In Southview Drive, one road across to the murder scene, people were attending a polling station in St Andrew’s Church to cast their vote in yesterday’s General Election.

One passer by said he knows the landlord of the property.

He said: “I think he was trying to sell it. He previously lived there but had moved out.

“He’s certainly not going to sell it when there’s a boarded up door at the front.”

No arrests have been made and police enquiries into the incident are ongoing.

An ambulance service spokesman said: "We were called at 4.42am with reports of a person with multiple stab wounds.

"We sent the Hazardous Area Response Team, an ambulance, ambulance officer, rapid response vehicle and Essex and Herts Air Ambulance.

"Sadly despite our best efforts a man died at the scene."

Call the Major Crime Unit on 101 with information.