British gov't says 27 tower blocks fail fire safety checks

Government officials in London revealed Saturday that cladding on 27 high rise residential tower blocks have failed safety tests.

A view of Burnham residential tower on the Chalcots Estate showing the bottom section of the building after cladding was removed, in the borough of Camden, north London, Thursday, June 22, 2017. [Photo: AP]

Details were released by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) less than 24 hours after Camden Council in London decided on the immediate evacuation of thousands of residents from four of its tower blocks on the Chalcots Estate in north London.

No announcements have yet been made about whether families living in the newly identified blocks will also be forced to leave their homes.

The urgent testing of high rise buildings follows the fire which raged through Grenfell Tower in the London borough of Kensington and Chelsea, leaving 79 people dead or missing presumed dead.

It was confirmed Friday that cladding and insulation used at Grenfell Tower had failed fire safety tests.

Demonstrators hold a banner demanding justice for the victims of the recent deadly apartment block fire at Grenfell Tower, as they protest near parliament in London Wednesday June 21, 2017. [Photo: AP]

The 27 blocks found with similar types of cladding to that used in Grenfell Tower are in Camden, Manchester, Plymouth, Hounslow, Portsmouth and Brent.

Around 600 residential blocks are in the process of being checked for combustible materials.

A spokesman for the DCLG said: "As soon as results of tests are received we share the information with building owners and the fire service for them to decide what the next steps."