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Outraged families were ordered to remove a giant paddling pool in a communal garden as they were allegedly told burglars may drown in it.

Maria Young and her neighbours clubbed together and bought the 12ft pool and cover for £64 during the heatwave last month.

Their children and grandkids have enjoyed cooling off in the sweltering 30C temperatures.

But this week killjoy housing officials told them it must go — because it is not safe for intruders.

Mrs Young, 47, said: "They said if someone breaks in they might drown in the pool.

(Image: KMG / SWNS.com)

"A team of them came and said initially we'd have to get rid of it.

"They then changed their mind and said we had to put it down each night for health and safety issues.

"I don't understand. People in other places are allowed them in their community gardens. There's nothing in the tenancy agreement that says we can't.

"We've even said we will sign a disclaimer to take responsibility for it.

"I don't know what the problem is, we have got a really nice block where everyone gets on and this is a nice way for everyone to enjoy the sunshine."

(Image: KMG / SWNS.com)

She added: "We all get on really well.

"We sit out the back together and socialise. It's completely enclosed.

"There's no way I'm taking it down. They'll have to carry me out laying in it."

The residents of the six flats in Strood, Kent, bought the paddling pool to bring the community together.

It takes around three hours to fill and holds up to 15,000 gallons of water.

But mhs Homes, which manages the properties, said it had to "be sure that everyone who has access to that land is safe".

The problems arouse when a security gate to the shared garden broke recently, which meant people from outside could easily get inside the back area of the flats.

(Image: KMG / SWNS.com)

Colette McKenney, housing manager at mhs Homes, said: "While it's really lovely to see people coming together as a community, we have to be sure that everyone who has access to that land is safe.

"This summer we're having extreme weather and it's very hot. But the pool is on land owned by us and we're responsible for everyone's safety.

"We're telling residents that the pool needs to be taken down and we'll be speaking to them about how they can safely enjoy a paddling pool in a communal area.

"Pools in private gardens and small children's paddling pools in communal gardens are fine so long as children are always accompanied and it's emptied when not being used.

"We don't want to spoil anyone's fun, which is why we're going to talk to our residents about trying to make this safe."

The housing association landlord has since said management will consider allowing the residents to keep the pool if it is enclosed by a locked fence.