‘I don’t know where we’re going to go’

RESIDENTS of five tower blocks in Camden, north London, were told to evacuate their homes last night to allow “urgent fire safety works” to take place.

The Chalcots Estate tower blocks have been found to be covered with the same type of cladding as used at Grenfell, five miles to the south west, where at least 79 people died in the fire that engulfed the building on June 14.

Firefighters said they could not guarantee the safety of the buildings following safety checks, Camden council’s leader Georgia Gould said.

The council said the blocks were being door-knocked one at a time for safety reasons, starting at Taplow block then working through blocks Burnham, Bray, Blashford and Dorney.

A spokesman added that residents would be allowed in at the weekend to collect more possessions “under escort from the London Fire Brigade” and recommended people pack enough belongings for a two-to-four-week stay.

A rest centre has been set up at Swiss Cottage Library and the 4,000 residents affected have been advised to stay with family and friends while the buildings are made safe.

There were scenes of confusion on the estate as people were told to leave as darkness began to fall, with some leaving with belongings in suitcases and carrier bags.

Michelle Urquhart, who has been living in the estate’s Bray tower, said: “It’s a bit frightening. I don’t know where we are going to go. One man in a suit said to me ‘you can’t stay here tonight’. We have been living in these flats for the last 10 years with this cladding.”

Kim Price, a teacher who lives in Blashford tower with her 14-year-old son, said she had received mixed messages over whether to leave her flat. She said: “The news has said ‘get out now’ but the authorities have said ‘stay put’. We’ve had two letters in two days saying ‘you’re not safe’ then ‘you’re safe’. I don’t really know what to do.”

Last night Theresa May, the Prime Minister, posted a message on Twitter saying: “My thoughts are with residents being evacuated in Camden while their homes are made safe tonight.”

Residents leave the Taplow block of the Chalcots Estate in Camden last night. Left, the Telegraph’s report last week