Barton House stands silent after residents had to find somewhere else to stay the night.

The gates at the front of the tower block are shut and only a few officials in hi-vis are in the car park.

Residents were taken to City Hall and nearby GP surgery Wellspring Settlement late on Tuesday.

Many said they did not yet know where they would be staying the night.

Hundreds of residents have woken up away from their homes after a tower block was evacuated because of safety concerns.

Barton House in Bristol stands empty after the council told 400 people living there they needed to leave.

We are expecting further updates from Bristol City Council, who have said they want to do more structural tests to determine the safety of the building.

Residents can visit the council's Citizen Service Point at 100 Temple Street from 10:00 GMT.

A helpline for residents will be taking calls from 08:30, the number is: 0800 694 0184.

Before that, people can call 0117 922 2050 in an emergency.

We are going to pause updates for the night. We'll be back with the latest information on this page from 6am on Wednesday.

The latest on this story can be found on this page.

There is a helpline if you need support which is open until midnight - 0800 694 0184. Overnight you can call 0117 9222050.

Bristol poet and activist Dr Lawrence Hoo announced on X that a nearby cafe has opened to help residents in need.

He said Cafe Conscious on Avonvale Road is open for hot drinks, soup, toilet facilities and rest.

"This is free for all residents of Barton House and support workers," he said.

"If you are able to please donate bottles of water, wet wipes, nappies, baby food, toothbrushes and toothpaste you can drop them off to Cafe Conscious or we can collect."

BBC West correspondent Fiona Lamdin has been talking with residents waiting to get on buses that will take them to the rest centre at City Hall.

She said those being evacuated are being checked over at the local GP centre before they get on transport.

"I’ve just been chatting with a mother who is nine months pregnant, her one-year-old son has been screaming for the last 20 minutes," she said.

"She doesn’t want to be named but tells me her English isn’t good and she is has absolutely no idea where they’ll end up tonight."

"The council tell me they’ve bought in a team of 50 to work around the clock to find hotel rooms for families.

"When they started this afternoon there were only 16 free rooms in Bristol but they are keen to keep families nearby so children don’t miss school.

"Earlier I met 11-year-old Yaseen with a trolley and suitcase, he’s packed his uniform hoping to get to school tomorrow."

Residents are distressed and panicked by the sudden evacuation at Barton House.

We caught up with Nuh Sharif earlier who became emotional after sharing his concerns.

Some of his fellow neighbours have taken refuge in nearby Wellspring Health Centre where they are being given hot tea and food.

Many of them are still not sure where they will be sleeping tonight.

There are buses waiting outside Barton House in Bristol with people queuing.

Many of them are carrying their belongings in plastic bags and suitcases.

Fiona Lamdin
Reporting from Barton House

At the Wellspring settlement GP hub, they estimate 50 residents are inside.

People keep wandering out clutching tea and hot plates of food.

People haven’t been told if they are sleeping here or City Hall yet.

Any resident of Barton House who needs further help can call a dedicated free hotline for information: 0800 694 0184.

Lines will be open until midnight (14 November 2023) and between 8.30am to 5pm on Wednesday (15 November 2023).

Residents will also be able to visit the council’s Citizen Service Point at 100 Temple Street from 10am on Wednesday.

Fiona Lamdin
Reporting from Barton House

Buses wait outside Barton Hill ready to take residents to the rest centre at City Hall. But first all those being evacuated are being checked over at the local GP centre.

I’ve just been chatting with a mother who is nine months pregnant, her one year old son has been screaming for the last 20 minutes.

She doesn’t want to be named but tells me her English isn’t good and she is has absolutely no idea where they’ll end up tonight.

The council tell me they’ve bought in a team of 50 to work around the clock to find hotel rooms for families.

When they started this afternoon there were only 16 free rooms in Bristol but they are keen to Keep families nearby so children don’t miss school.

Earlier I met 11 year old Yaseen with a trolly and suitcase, he’s packed his uniform hoping to get to school tomorrow.

Deputy Mayor Craig Cheney said the “safety of residents is absolutely paramount”.

“Obviously it’s coming to the point where decisions need to be made about its [the building’s] future," he said.

“In that survey we found some structural issues that were concerning.

“We had the survey reviewed and upon receiving the results of the survey we’ve immediately moved people out of the building while we can carry out some more [survey work].

“We surveyed three flats. There are 98 in the building so there’s a lot more work to do.”

Bristol City Council has published more information about the decision to evacuate Barton House:

"Tenant safety is the number one priority for the council’s housing team.

"The cautious approach being taken to Barton House is to ensure no unnecessary risk is taken with the wellbeing of those who live there.

"No evidence has been presented to suggest there is any immediate risk to health and life," it explained.

The council says there is a further planned survey designed to provide all the information needed to fully assess the building structure.

"There is currently no evidence to suggest the issues identified within Barton House are present elsewhere, although the council is regularly surveying its estate as it works to meet all regulatory requirements," a letter on the council website concluded.

A post on X from a housing group shows a resident surrounded by others.

She is visibly distressed and asking officials on the ground for help.

She said: "My whole body is shaking. Are we being evicted?"

"I have anxiety. I've got animals upstairs."

Others around her are trying to calm her down.

A bus has turned up to take residents away from Barton House.

The driver has told the BBC they are not sure yet where they are taking them.

• Barton House in Bristol is being evacuated due to safety fears
• It was completed in 1958 and is the oldest of the tower blocks in the Bristol City Council housing estate.
• Experts concluded a fire, explosion or high impact on the building could endanger its structure.
• All occupants are being told to leave and take overnight bags with them.
• Local rest areas have been set up but residents advised to go and stay with friends if they can.
• It is still unclear when residents will be allowed to return.
• Helpline open until midnight tonight: 0800 694 0184

Resident Omar Abdulatif said he wants to stay in his flat and that he is "not going out".

"What can I do," he said.

"It's very cold outside and if we stay here it's safe from outside."

Omar lives in Barton House in a flat with his four children and his wife.

"Just 10 minutes ago they said to leave the house. Why?

"I don't know what to do tomorrow," he added.

Sheila Barrett told us she was moving out and will go and stay with her grandson.

“I am really, really shocked," she said.

"I have lived here for 50 years. I thought it was something to do with cladding, but have been told it is structural.

"I have been told it was something to do with a fire-brigade survey and we have to move out. It’s a shock.”

Avon Fire and Rescue say the decision to empty Barton House is "appropriate and proportional".

They added they are supporting to make sure residents are safe.

Father of three Yousif Ahmed believes the council should have warned people earlier.

"If anything had happened while they were investigating it would have been dangerous for our kids," he said as he loaded up his car with overnight bags.

"They have just suddenly come knocking on the door saying you have to leave.” He said that he doesn’t know where he will go with his wife and three kids. He told us he felt a “lot of pressure about where they will go now".

The latest picture from the block of flats shows residents gathering at one of the exits.