VANDALS have caused “thousands of pounds” of damage after painting graffiti from top to bottom of a 16 floor tower block staircase.

The Pennine tower, one of four tower blocks on Southend's Queensway Estate, was hit by vandals over the weekend.

Images from inside the block show graffiti painted in red, yellow and black paint from the top of the 16-storey block, all the way to the ground floor.

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The graffiti was sprayed on walls, doors and windows in the stairwell of the block some time between 3am and 10.20pm on Sunday, August 7.

Echo: 'Thousands in damage' - The graffiti'Thousands in damage' - The graffiti

“It’s so awful for the resident who live there to have their homes and communal spaces ruined in this way by these yobs,” ward councillor Margaret Borton said.

“While we don’t know who it did yet, it is likely these are people who don’t live there and have broken into the block.

“The damage has been done from the top of the bock, right to the bottom, and will likely cost a lot of money to clean up.”

Echo: 16 storeys - Pennine block in Southend's Queensway Estate16 storeys - Pennine block in Southend's Queensway Estate

She added: “There is a bit of an ongoing problem with vandalism in Queensway, as windows were smashed in the Chiltern tower block recently too.”

The tower block is managed by Southend Council’s housing management firm South Essex Homes. (SEH).

Beverley Gallacher, director at SEH, said: “Our security teams and caretakers discovered several areas within the stairwell have been vandalised at Pennine, which has caused potentially thousands of pounds worth of damage to the doors and will require extensive cleaning."

Ms Gallacher added: “We are really keen to find out more about who is responsible for this damage so that we can take action.”

Ms Borton is calling for residents with information to come forward and assist the investigation

“If anybody saw anything, and think they may be able to help identify the vandals then please contact South Essex Homes.”

If you can help narrow down the times the offences took place, or if you saw anything suspicious to help identify the culprits, contact South Essex Homes tenancy team members Nadine or Lorraine on 0800 833160 or email nadinegould@seh.southend.gov.uk/lorrainegaudyn@seh.southend.gov.uk.