Thousands of people in Basildon are having their television transmissions blocked - by pirates.

Skullduggery by a determined gang of pirate radio broadcasters has repeatedly left viewers across the town unable to tune into all channels.

CDA - the cable company which provides the service - today hit out at Basildon Council for failing to sink the problem, once and for all.

Managing director Colin Denning said he is "fed up" with his company having to "carry the can".

He added: "I have got fistfuls of correspondence between ourselves and the council which dates back at least a year. This is not a new problem."

CDA's transmitters are sited on top of Brooke House in Basildon town centre.

However, on a number of occasions this year, pirate radio broadcasters have managed to gain access to the tower block's roof and strap their own transmitters to CDA's equipment, destroying the cable signal.

Mr Denning added: "These are very determined people. Concerted efforts have been made to keep them out but they always seem to get back in somehow."

He added that the illegal equipment is also a danger.

"These extra transmitters may not be secured properly and could fall on someone's head, said Mr Denning.

"It really is a very dangerous activity."

The illegal activities have also left residents in the town unamused. One said: "I am paying £11 a quarter in advance for a service I only get intermittently.

"It's not good enough and it is time someone did something to stop these pirate radio stations broadcasting."

A Basildon Council spokesman said: "There have been problems with both Brooke House and Royal Court in Laindon and pirate radio stations. The two blocks are regularly checked by officers at weekends and at night.

"Security arrangements are being updated continually and the council is working in partnership with police and other agencies to try to solve the problems."

Pirate menace - Brooke House with a flag added to the top by our photographer

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.