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Hundreds of families are being evacuated from five tower blocks in London tonight over fears of another Grenfell disaster.

Cladding on the high-rises in Camden failed a fire safety test and council bosses have been forced to take drastic action.

Around 800 households on the Chalcots estate were told to leave with little or no warning on Friday night.

Council leader Georgia Gould said the evacuation was so “urgent fire safety works” could be done while the residents could be “fully assured of their safety”.

Ms Gould said it was expected the work would take three or four weeks, adding that residents would be housed in temporary accommodation.

Thousands live in the 800 flats. There was a fire in the Taplow block in 2012.

Downing Street tweeted a message from Prime Minister Theresa May saying: "My thoughts are with residents being evacuated in Camden while their homes are made safe tonight."

(Image: PA) (Image: PA)

Residents will be forced to sleep in a leisure centre on Friday where hundreds of blow up mattresses have been assembled in a sports hall.

The decision to evacuate was made at 5pm on Friday evening after the London Fire Brigade (LFB) made it clear a number of issues put resident at risk.

Gas pipes not being properly insulated and that some doors to flats didn't meet standards.

A spokesman for LFB said: "Following extensive joint visits and inspections the Brigade advised that there were a number of fire safety issues in the buildings and recommended that residents should not remain in the buildings until these issues are resolved.

"Camden Council have acted on this by evacuating and providing the residents with alternative accommodation so that remedial works can go ahead as quickly as possible.

"London Fire Brigade officers will continue to work with Camden to put in place measures to improve safety for residents in these buildings."

The evacuation came after councillors were confronted at a public meeting.

A resident named Angela said: “You can’t reassure me because I’m on the 17th floor. You need to do more and you need to do it now. I’m petrified.”

Another resident stormed: “You never looked at the work that was done. So you left these people in danger.

“I want to see someone from the council swing for that.”

(Image: AFP) (Image: PA) (Image: PA)

Initially, it was revealed 161 homes in the Taplow block were being evacuated before it later emerged residents living in 800 homes across five towers on the estate were being removed.

Resident Shirley Phillips said "this is ridiculous" as she revealed she learned about the mass evacuation through TV reports.

She told Sky News: "I think it's absolutely disgusting. We've had the fire brigade all day, Camden Council, police.

"I had a fire safety check done today. Why have they left it til half past eight on Friday night to start getting residents out? Where do they think we're all going?"

"I've been told it's to do with the gas pipes on the landings. We've been told we'll be out for two to four weeks."

Another woman said children were "vomiting with fear" as homes were evacuated.

(Image: Sky News) (Image: PA)

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The Chalcots estate tower blocks are also thought to be covered in the same cladding that has been blamed for the Grenfell disaster.

A £66 million refurbishment included external thermal rain screen cladding to five towers, new aluminium thermally broken windows to five towers and overhaul of external roofs.

(Image: AFP)

(Image: AFP)

(Image: PA) (Image: PA)

Ms Gould admitted the tragedy, in nearby Kensington, 'changes everything'.

She said: "Camden Council is absolutely determined to ensure that our residents are safe and we have promised them that we will work with them, continue to act swiftly and be open and transparent.

"Last night the Chief Executive and I led a public meeting to listen to the concerns held by residents of the Chalcots estate. Upon hearing from residents the we immediately instructed a joint fire inspection with the London Fire Brigade.

(Image: PA)

(Image: AFP) (Image: PA)

"Today the London Fire Brigade completed a joint inspection of the blocks with Camden Council technical experts.

"Together we decided that the Taplow block needs to be temporarily decanted while we undertake urgent fire safety works so that residents can be fully assured of their safety.

"This means that we need to move residents from their homes and into temporary accommodation.

(Image: EPA)

"We anticipate that these works will be completed within three to four weeks.

"We realise that this is hugely distressing for everyone affected and we will be doing all we can, alongside the London Fire Brigade and other authorities, to support our residents at this difficult time.

(Image: AFP)

"The Grenfell fire changes everything – we need to do everything we can to keep residents safe."

"You will appreciate that this is an emerging situation and we will be providing regular updates."

Norman McKinley, executive director of UK operations at British Red Cross said: "The British Red Cross are supporting a number of people at a rest centre in Camden who have been evacuated from their homes due to fire safety concerns.

"Our staff and volunteers will be on hand to provide practical and emotional support to anyone who needs it."

The Chalcots estate has five tower blocks - four 22 storey blocks and one 18 storey block.

The death toll, including those classed as missing presumed dead, remains at 79, police said in the latest update on the Grenfell blaze.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the move to relocate residents was "necessary".

He said: "I am in close contact with Camden Council, the London Fire Brigade and the Government about the precautionary measures being taken at the Chalcots Estate in Swiss Cottage.

"Following advice from fire prevention experts at the London Fire Brigade, it has been decided that the best way to keep residents safe is to relocate them tonight, as a precautionary measure.

"There is a particular set of circumstances on this estate that make this necessary, which has been identified following good work between Camden Council and the London Fire Brigade. Fire safety checks are ongoing at other estates across the UK.

"I will continue working closely with all London boroughs, the London Fire Brigade and the Government and we will do everything possible to keep all Londoners safe."