Truth behind the concrete tower block that was inspiration for new film High-Rise: 'Breathtaking' structure where first residents were excited to move in soon became known as the 'tower of terror' 

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It's the 31-storey concrete tower block that was seen as the pinnacle of high-rise living back in 1972.

But Trellick Tower in London's fashionable North Kensington soon became the backdrop for assault and muggings, earning it the ominous nickname the 'tower of terror'.

The looming 322ft council housing block, which inspired the new film High-Rise starring Tom Hiddleston, was however described by one resident as 'modern' and 'breathtaking' when she first moved in.

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The 31-storey Trellick Tower (pictured) in North Kensington, London, was built in 1972 and is the inspiration behind the new Tom Hiddleston science fiction thriller High-Rise

But years ago, people could not wait to move into the state-of-the-art tower, billed as a new utopia of modern living in west London (pictured in June 1972)

The hit film's writer JG Ballard looked to the domineering building for ideas when he wrote his iconic 1975 novel.

The movie stars British actor Tom Hiddleston as Dr Robert Laing, who lives on the 25th floor of an isolated London skyscraper where tensions rise amid class warfare.

Actors Sienna Miller, Jeremy Irons, Elizabeth Moss and James Purefoy also star as residents in the drama.

They quickly turn on each other when power supplies are cut and food runs short - with Tom Hiddleston even eating his own dog out of desperation.

In real life the building, designed by Hungarian-born Modernist architect Erno Goldfinger, is less luxurious than is dramatised onscreen.

Disgruntled residents complain of being left in the shadow of their more fashionable neighbors Notting Hill - however many still praise the iconic estate.

Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Moss (both pictured) star in High-Rise, a film about rising class tensions and anarchy in an isolated London tower block

High-Rise is written by JG Ballard (pictured) who looked to the domineering Trellick Tower for ideas when he penned his iconic 1975 novel

The 'Tower of Terror' is less luxurious than the dramatised version in real life and has been a backdrop for muggings and assault in the past

Susan Darocha was among the first to move in and raised her son and daughter there.

The 68-year-old told the Sunday People: 'You could see it from the Tube station. It was breathtaking. It was very modern and we were excited to move in. 

'There was a park, adventure playground, good schools and the West End was on our doorstep. We never looked back.'

But Trellick's ­communal spaces attracted homeless people and drug ­dealers, while thefts and sex assaults were allegedly common - earning it the nickname tower of terror.

Susan added: 'There were lots of break-ins back in the day. I remember lying on my settee one night and hearing a huge bang.

The block (pictured) was described by one resident as 'modern' and 'breathtaking' when she first moved in

'The next day I saw someone had chucked a safe over the balcony. They nick these things and don't know how to open them. I'd have died if it came through my living room.'

Teaching assistant Jenny Mercurio, 39, told the newspaper she could see similarities with Trellick and High-Rise in terms of the class tensions.

In the film the idea is that the higher up the floors you go, the more affluent the characters get. 

The mum-of-three said: 'A lot of people from the 12th floor up have bought their house. The views are spectacular, ­especially if you live on the upper floors.'

She added that a lot of the residents came and went, but felt generally safe, and commented that most of her neighbours were families. 

In the film, Sienna Miller stars as the glamorous neighbour of Tom Hiddleston - who lives on the 25th floor

Trellick's ­communal spaces attracted homeless people and drug ­dealers, while thefts and sex assaults were allegedly common

Trellick Tower, which cost £2.4million to build, provided 217 council homes to families with a low-income.

It was built by the Hungarian-born Modernist architect Erno Goldfinger, whose surname was borrowed by James Bond author Ian Fleming for his villain in the 1959 book of the same name.

He saw his design as the future for modern housing. The tower is built in a narrow oblong with a separate lift tower linked at every third storey to the main block.

Inside, the flats were built to dovetail each other. Where one flat had a front door at the top of a staircase leading down to the living area, next door would always have the opposite design with the front door at the base of the stairs. This was intended to reduce noise transmitting between the apartments.

But by the time the block was completed in 1972, high-rises were becoming unpopular with council tenants because they attracted crime and anti-social behaviour.

Trellick’s fortunes started to rise following the formation of a residents’ committee in the Eighties. A door-entry intercom system was introduced and a concierge employed. 

With security improved, and the right-to-buy scheme in place, many of the flats changed from council to private ownership. In 2013 45 of the 217 flats are privately owned. In 1998 the tower was Grade II listed. 

The housing block was built by Hungarian-born Modernist architect Erno Goldfinger (pictured) - whose surname was borrowed by James Bond author Ian Fleming for his villain in the 1959 book of the same nam

The infamous council-housing estate, looming 322ft high over London's skyline, was described by one resident as 'breathtaking' when she first moved in