THURROCK Council has assured residents that rumours and social media comments suggesting condemned tower blocks in the borough are being used by squatters or to house asylum seekers are not true.

Previous speculation that people have been seen going in and out of the tower blocks at Blackshots, which are shut, boarded up and slated for demolition, have circulated for some time but were reinforced when film was published on social media of mattresses and other furniture being delivered to Keir Hardy House.

However, the council has answered questions and rebutted comments with the following statement: "The furniture is the council's and was being delivered to be temporarily stored in the building, which is suitable for temporary storage until a more permanent home can be found for the furniture.

"The small amount of furniture, which was bought as part of the Brisbane House recovery plan at the end of last year, while it finds a more permanent solution to either store or dispose of it."

"No one is being moved into Blackshots flats, they are still boarded up and scheduled for demolition."

The council has also explained why the building continues to be lit up interanlly at night, another reason people have said they believe it is occupied. The council statement says: "Although utilities, including electricity and water, have been decommissioned to all the flats. vital safety systems, such as fire detections systems, lifts communal area lights and emergency lighting are being maintained for safety reasons."

Residents have already responded cynically to the council's statement, asking how or why it makes sense to store materials like matresses in a building which is being demolished because of deep-seated damp and mould problems.