Residents living near a “degenerative” squat which was last week cleared and boarded up by the authorities have told how they fear it will once again be taken over by troublemakers.

Earlier this month, police kicked out 10 people from Ranger Mansions, a council-owned building in Jasper Road, following a shooting.

On the same day, they also evicted 13 people from a house in neighbouring Farquhar Road next to Crystal Palace Park.

Those living near the Jasper Road squat had already reported a nightmare of all-night raves, drug misuse and antisocial behaviour.

Calls for the eviction intensified after residents reported hearing gunshots, which left one man injured on Saturday, January 28.

Despite Lambeth Council’s insistence that it is “tough” on squatters; people living nearby said they remained sceptical about its approach to the problem.

Resident Erskine Odongo said he blamed the council for allowing the building to fall into a state of disrepair, which left neighbours feeling “worried and uneasy”.

He said: “[The squatters] were bringing real anti-social behaviour to the area and were a nuisance, but I also blame the owners. It is a nice building- I don't know why it was left like that.

“People were worried and uneasy about the squatters. Now they've gone something has to be done about the building to start with. I feel safer now, but at any time they can come back."

Carl Imthurn, of Farquhar Road, said it had taken the council five years to secure Ranger Mansions, and in that time it had “slowly degenerated”.

He added the recent shooting could have been prevented if officials had acted faster.

He said: “The problem was, and still is, the council's housing policy. It has taken them about five years to secure Ranger Mansions.

“Since 2007, it has slowly degenerated. They are ultimately responsible for what occurred, so far as it became a squat. What happened was inevitable.

“I don't feel any better about it now because it's just a boarded-up, empty property. I don't feel safer.”

Six men have been arrested in connection with the shooting and have been bailed until late March.

The council is yet to confirm its future plans for Ranger Mansions.