Trashed

Mrs Cole, 41, from Broadwater Road, said she was "devastated" after discovering the Lyndhurst Road property had been trashed.

Plaster had been torn from the walls, the bathroom had been flooded with toilet waste and human excrement was left in the bath.

There were 247 used hypodermic needles strewn throughout the property.There was also disturbing evidence that young children may have lived in the house. One upstairs bedroom wall was covered with what appear to be children's drawings.

Mrs Cole said: "It's just devastating. I was brought up in that house. It was my late parents' pride and joy."

The disgusting legacy they left behind included:

*Green paint smeared over the walls and property

*Internal doors ripped from the hinges

*Kitchen units, washing machine and fridge stolen

Mrs Cole rented out the Lyndhurst Road property after the death of her father in May, 2003.

The trouble apparently began when Mrs Cole refused a request from the residents to change the colour of the carpet in the property.

Mrs Cole then started to receive written complaints about the tenants' anti-social behaviour and alleged intimidation of neighbours.Although an eviction notice was finally served in April last year, the residents refused to leave the property until they were placed in a Worthing Homes' house.

It is thought they allowed squatters to live in the property after they left.

Mrs Cole said: "What right do they have to do that to us? They have had no just cause.You do somebody a favour and this is what they do to your house. What's the justification in it? It's pure vandalism."