A couple who challenged the evacuation procedures at a tower block after a blaze engulfed a balcony of one of the flats have been assured everything was in order.

Ryan Wood and his partner Pixie were visiting Mr Wood’s brother, who lives on the ninth floor of Midhurst Court in Mote Road in Maidstone.

On Monday afternoon, a fire broke out on the balcony of a flat on the fifth floor of the 13-storey tower block, prompting a large response of six fire engines and a height vehicle.

But Mr Wood, 28, said the three remained blissfully ignorant of what was happening until he and his brother went to go to a nearby shop at about 5.30pm.

He said: “When we left the flats, we immediately saw all the fire engines, but until that time we didn’t know there was a fire. No-one had notified us.

“Pixie was still in the flat, but the police said she had to stay there, and they wouldn’t let us back in either.

“My brother who has learning difficulties found it very distressing and Pixie, alone in the flat, was very scared.”

The pair had to wait outside in the car park with other residents until the all-clear was given at about 6pm.

The tower block is owned by the Golding Homes housing association.

A spokesman said: “Midhurst Court has a ‘stay put’ emergency fire safety policy in place as the structure of the building; the walls, floors and doors are designed to give appropriate protection.

“Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) has confirmed the building performed as it should.

“All residents whom KFRS needed to evacuate, and a few other residents who wanted to self-evacuate, got out of the building safely.

“We are working in partnership with KFRS to support our customers and to respond to any questions about the stay-put policy.

“Our building safety team inspects our buildings once a month.”

A fire service spokesman said: “Everyone that needed to evacuate who lived close to the floor that had the fire was evacuated, and others who wanted to self-evacuate got out safely.

“All residents were checked by the crew.”

The fire was contained to a single flat.

Mr Wood later confirmed that his brother had received a text message from Golding Homes advising him of a fire in the flats.