RESIDENTS plagued by vandalism are pleading with a council to move them and demolish a notorious block of flats.

Many of the 30 or more residents have lost patience with a housing authority. They are asking to be rehoused from the place they have dubbed a mini-Beirut - unless their grievances are met. Others say Arrass House, off Hillson Drive, Fareham, should be bulldozed. Flat-tenants say their lives are blighted by broken windows, doors, lack of security and noise and violence from neighbours.

Residents complained to police about a lack of effective action to curb the vandalism and violence.

Fareham Supt Geoff Jones said he was taking their complaints seriously. "Positive action" was being taken.

Fareham Borough Council said it took the security and quality of life of its tenants very seriously. If necessary, eviction would be considered.

One tenant, Christopher Hill, a former porter at Brighton's Grand Hotel, which was bombed by the IRA in 1984, said the disturbances at his home sometimes brought back the terror of that attack.

He said: "I wake up in the night with some idiots banging on the door or shouting and smashing windows. Momentarily, I freeze because the horror of the bombing comes back to me.

"It's not exactly the same, but the effect on the residents is also traumatic. We live in constant fear of something happening to us, whether it's verbal abuse or physical violence or your flat being broken into and windows smashed and doors damaged or banged on.'' Neighbour Lisa-Marie Smith, 18, was delighted when she was re-housed after living on the streets, but she soon asked to be transferred.

She said: "I'm classed as a vulnerable person because I'm partially deaf, asthmatic and have depression. This place is the last environment I should be living in. It's very stressful always being scared of who you might walk into because you might get an earful or even be assaulted.

"The flats don't have any proper security or way of calling for help if there's trouble. I was never this scared of violence on the streets. I wanted to stay, but things never get better here. These flats should be pulled down.''

Councillor Ernest Crouch said: "I sympathise with these people. Hopefully, the council and police can help them. Our tenants should have proper protection in our homes. It's difficult to evict people, but if they are breaking the terms of their tenancy by their behaviour then we would consider eviction.''