Alex Littlewood
BBC West of England reporter

Within the last 30 minutes we have seen families coming out with bags and boxes of belongings.

They are loading their cars and trying to figure out what to do next.

I can see council officials going door-to-door taking people's details and telling them what to do next.

Right now families are beginning to leave, but many don't know where they will be going.

A resident said he found out about the evacuation from Facebook and his friend.

"Barton House should have been condemned years ago," he said.

"My flat is terrible. It's full of damp and mould.

"Half my ceiling has collapsed literally into my bathroom."

Paul Barltrop
Political Editor, West of England

Barton House was built 65 years ago – so its condition was being checked. However survey work done in three flats revealed worrying flaws.

Experts concluded that a fire, explosion or high impact on the building could endanger its structure.

That sparked the decision to move the 400 or so residents out. They are being asked to stay with family or friends; otherwise rest centres are being set up nearby.

Council officers have been going door to door, asking residents to pack only what they need for a few days, and leave.

Once the building has been evacuated, further survey work will be carried out. Only then will the authorities be able to establish whether the building can be made safe – or must be condemned.

The council are reassuring tenants elsewhere that Barton House is its oldest tower block and of a unique design – which means their homes should not be similarly affected.

The council has set up a helpline for affected residents.

They say you can ring them until midnight tonight and from 8.30am to 5pm tomorrow.

That number is 0800 694 0184.

The council's Citizen Service Point at 100 Temple Street will also be open from 9am on Wednesday.

There is also a number you can call outside of these hours which is 0117 9222050.

Residents are being advised to pack a bag and stay with family and friends for a short time.If they have nowhere to go they can head to the Tawfiq Masjid & Centre on Aiken Street, where a rest centre is being prepared.At this stage the council says it does not know when people will be able to return home.

Image source, Bristol City Council

Residents have been sent a letter by the council detailing the reasons for the evacuation.

They say the plan is "cautious but sensible" and that it is a "temporary measure".

They acknowledge the situation is like to cause "stress and anxiety".

Image source, ACORN

A resident says many others living at Barton House do not know what is going on and are "in the dark".

ACORN member Shaban Ali said he has not been "informed of anything at all".

"We really don't know what's going on, we hope to get an update from the council as soon as possible," he said.

"I think it's completely outrageous to leave people in the dark.

"There's people panicking."

Bristol City Council has declared a ‘major incident’ over Barton House.

This allows the authority to seek help from outside organisations.

The council also said it was working with the emergency services who had been “put on alert” but as a precautionary measure.

Image source, Google

Barton House is the oldest tower block in Bristol City Council’s estate.

The authority said it has been constructed in a way unlike any other block belonging to the council.

The building houses around 400 residents.

“I have two special needs kids and I don’t know what will happen with them.

"I am worried where they are going to stay, how am I going to get them to school tomorrow.

"I have no where to stay,” said Nuh Sharif who lives with his family at Barton House.

“It’s tough to be honest. I am panicking, so panicked, so difficult for me.”

Residents had been told to leave and stay with friends and family, or go to designated rest centres.

Authorities are still in the process of going door to door informing residents they need to exit the building.

They are asking tenants to pack a bag for a day or two and take what they need.

• About 400 people live in Barton House, which is in the Redfield area of Bristol
• Redfield is about three miles to the east of the city centre
• Residents have been told to leave and stay with friends and family, or go to designated rest centres
• They are being told to pack enough clothes and belongings for "a day or two" the council said
• It said it had been carrying out building surveys on Barton House, the oldest in its estate, as it decided on the long-term future of the block

A major incident has been declared in Bristol after "major structural faults" were discovered in a tower block.

Surveys showed Barton House in Redfield would not be safe in the event of a fire or explosion.

Stay with us for live coverage of this breaking news.