Barton House: Tower block residents share evacuation stories

Shaban Ali is among more than 400 residents facing uncertainty over when or if they can return to their homes

"I'm so tired... I'm emotionally drained, mentally drained... physically. I feel grubby and dirty," said father-of-two Shaban Ali.

Mr Ali is one of more than 400 people facing an uncertain future after being evacuated from Barton House in Bristol on Tuesday after structural problems were found during a council inspection.

"I haven't been able to wash properly since Tuesday. I just want to sit down and have a proper meal. I haven't seen my children," he added.

Bristol City Council says it's working as quickly as possible and putting residents' safety first.

It is not known how long people will have to remain in temporary accommodation, but people staying in hotels have been told that the council was ensuring rooms would be available until at least Monday, when the council said it will update residents.

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Mr Ali's home is one of 98 flats in the building deemed potentially unsafe by the council.

He helped evacuate residents on Tuesday night, before heading to the local GP surgery, where people were gathering.

He gave his contact details to a council officer, and was told he would receive a call telling him what to do next.

"Unfortunately that didn't happen," he said.

"That evening I went back into the flats and that's where I stayed," added Mr Ali.

Home no longer safe

Wednesday passed with no further contact from the council, and, not wanting to stay in Barton House again, Mr Ali slept at a friend's house.

On Thursday, he was told a council officer would be at Barton House to help people make arrangements and answer questions.

By mid-afternoon, he was allocated a hotel room in the centre of Bristol, 48 hours after hearing his home was no longer safe.

"I only just changed my top for the first time in three days and I'm pretty much wearing the same clothes now as on Tuesday, and other residents tell me they've been borrowing clothes from friends and family," he said.

Yousif with his three children

Yousif, Majda and their three children are staying in the same city centre hotel as Mr Ali.

They were given two rooms between them, and were prioritised because of the children.

The family is unable to cook and are relying on friends to share meals with them.

Yousif said they were only able to take a few things with them after being given little time leave their home on Tuesday.

Yousif and Majda are relying on friends to share hot meals

"It's really hard to be apart from our house," said Yousif.

"On Tuesday they just came and asked us to leave. When you leave your home it's very stressful and you don't know what to do and what to take with you," he added.

"My children find it scary," said Majda. "They ask me 'mummy is our house broken, or no', and I say I don't know".

Yousif and Majda say their children find the situation "scary"

About 80 residents staged a protest at City Hall in Bristol earlier, demanding an investigation and calling for more support.

Bristol City Council said it was trying to arrange more suitable accommodation where people could cook their own food.

It added urgent surveys are taking place to determine if Barton House would need to be condemned.