ELDERLY people in a sheltered homes development are having their sleep rudely disturbed in the middle of the night by anti-social behaviour.

Complaints include residents being woken in the early hours by pranksters ringing doorbells and running off, full dog poo bags being left outside doors, a "dark figure" lurking in a stairwell and burglaries.

Sonia Pitcher, aged 60, who lives on her own in a flat in Broomfield House, in the Wellsprings area of Taunton, and neighbours have lodged a number of complaints with Taunton Deane Council.

Ms Pitcher, who has MS and ME, said: "It's very upsetting and people are worried for their safety.

"I took my dog outside into the garden at 2.30am the other day and had my back towards my front door for a couple of seconds.

"In that time someone got into my flat and took £100 out of a jar. Other people have had money stolen.

"Just before that somebody was ringing an 83-year-old woman's bell quite a few times. She found it very distressing.

"Earlier this year there was a dark figure at the top of my stairs. When I asked what he was doing he didn't answer, so I rushed into my flat and locked the door."

Ms Pitcher said the tenants of the 20 flats in the block are so frightened that one has installed CCTV and she has put in a burglar alarm.

She added: "There are three doors to get in - when I complained to the council, I was told to lock them before I went to bed.

"But I'm not the only person who lives here and someone else might leave them open. We need a proper security system."

A Taunton Deane Council spokeswoman said the authority takes the safety and security of its tenants and residents seriously.

She added: "We have investigated the issues at Broomfield House and are working with partners, including the police, and our anti-social behaviour team.

"We would encourage residents to report their concerns so that they can be addressed quickly."