Sheffield flats evacuated over fire safety failure

Those living in the block were offered emergency accommodation

Residents of a Sheffield apartment block were told to evacuate after the building failed fire safety tests.

The North Bank building on Wicker Riverside was served a prohibition notice following an inspection by South Yorkshire Fire Service on Friday night.

Apartments on the sixth up to the 10th floor were evacuated, with residents offered emergency accommodation.

Management company Love Your Block said the issues were around smoke ventilation and fire escape procedures.

More stories from around Yorkshire

Paul McCormack, from the company, said these were issues he flagged up to the fire service during a routine inspection of the property.

He said there were also problems with the cavity wall and cladding of the building.

"We are doing absolutely everything that we can to support the residents, and are having multiple conversations with the fire brigade and the council," he said.

Residents have been told they may not be able to go back to their apartments until the end of next week.

Residents may not be able to return to their apartments until the end of next week

The fire service said it was a "difficult decision" to make this close to Christmas, but that safety was a priority.

It comes after it announced last month it was inspecting all buildings in South Yorkshire over six storeys.

It is part of a government risk review programme aimed at increasing the pace of high-rise residential inspection activity which came in after the Grenfell Tower disaster.

North Bank resident Ryan Spence said residents had knocks on their doors at about 19:30 GMT on Friday, telling them to leave.

"The building has failed every single fire regulation it turns out and every person from the sixth floor onwards to the 10th floor have been forced to leave tonight or face arrest," he said.

The building is 10 storeys high and has 132 flats, 35 of which are on the upper section affected by the evacuation.

Mr McCormack said the upper floors can be reoccupied when a full evacuation alarm system is in place.

This is to alert residents to evacuate in the event of a fire, rather than adhere to the "stay put" policy currently in place.

Fire wardens would now patrol the lower floors until the alarm system was up and running.

A spokesman for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (SYFRS) said: "Business fire safety inspectors have issued a prohibition notice on the building for a number of fire safety issues.

"Our fire inspectors will continue to work with the business owner to support them in resolving the issues, and to enable the notice to be lifted."

Fire wardens will patrol the lower floors until the alarm system is up and running

Paul Wood, from Sheffield City Council, said: "We are appalled that despite advice this building has fire safety issues that puts at risk residents and we are working closely with SYFRS."

He said the council's enforcement arrangements will be used to "ensure works are carried out by the building owner and its management company so that residents can return to their homes promptly and if possible before Christmas".

Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [e-mail] or send video here.