TENANTS are calling on a housing association to replace dozens of garages to protect cars from vandalism on a troubled estate.

Jackie Falconer, 63, from Mellow Purgess, Laindon, said there used to be around 50 secure residents’ garages near her house, which were demolished two years ago as part of regeneration plans for the Five Links estate.

The estate has recently been hit by a spate of car crimes. In the past week, a car had paint poured over it and another was broken into and had its headlight smashed.

Two other vehicles were set alight over the previous fortnight.

Mrs Falconer claimed these problems stem from the loss of the garages, where she and her neighbours used to lock up their cars, and a lack of security at a car park off Mellow Purgess.

This was opened by Swan Housing in December 2008 to be used during regeneration works in the area.

She said: “We had about 50 garages demolished and nobody cared when we told them it would leave residents with nowhere safe to park.

“The garages were so popular, there was about a year’s waiting list for them.

“We used to like the security of being able to lock our cars away.”

Complaints about lack of safe places to park are the latest setback to befall the Five Links project, where 185 new flats and houses were supposed to have been put up, a few yards from existing homes, by the end of last year. Many of them have still not been built.

Mrs Falconer and her neighbours would like replacement garages included in the regeneration plans.

Pauline Ward, 63, also of Mellow Purgess, said: “My husband and I had one of those garages for over 30 years.

“They never factor in replacement garages when they have these big regeneration plans.

“We’re fed up with these mindless vandals, and need more security for our cars one way or another.”

Paul Hebden, spokesman for Swan Housing, would not commit to replacing the garages.

However, he said: “Swan has been in contact with the police to ensure they are aware of residents’ concerns about vandalism.

“In addition, we have arranged for a police representative to attend a meeting at the estate to discuss residents’ concerns.”