Thousands of angry council tenants are threatening a rent strike over the poor standard of cleaning on their estates.

Crisis talks were set to take place between tenant representatives, unions and council leader Andrew Puddephatt at the town hall.

Tenants were furious that landings, stairwells and courtyards were often filthy due to not enough cleaners being employed – and called for the work to be privatised.

The worst-hit estates included Holly Street in Dalston, Hoxton’s Hobs, De Beauvoir and Downs.

“On my estate we have four full-time cleaners when we should have six,” said Holly street TA chairman Harry Shaw. “Because of staff shortages they get overtime on other estates but often this is done during the day when they should be cleaning ours.”

• Detectives were hoping a bloodstone ring could provide vital clues into the murder of a “friendly, placid man” who was beaten up so badly by two youths as he walked home to the Jack Dunning Estate, he later died.