ELDERLY people, pregnant mothers and young children fled a tower block when fire threatened to destroy the building on Saturday night.

The fire broke out in rubbish left by builders close to Melville Court, off Dock Road, Chatham.

Smoke filtered inside upper storey apartments and flames damaged one flat.

Jason Watson, one of the residents, said: "I had to go round banging on doors to get people to leave.

"My neighbour’s flat was badly affected by smoke which came up through the floor boards. Another flat was completely blackened.

"This is the second time rubbish has caught fire outside these flats in less than a fortnight, and it’s the eighth fire of this kind since I have lived here.

"I think it’s disgusting that the builders leave their rubbish so close. If the flats had gone up people could have been killed.

"My wife Stacey Cressey is pregnant, as is another neighbour, and it can’t do them any good breathing in smoke."

The flats are owned by mhs Homes.

Medway Fire and Rescue said that three appliances were sent to deal with the fire.

Firemen had to break into one of the flats, which is being refurbished, to make sure there were no squatters inside.