Council tower blocks in Herne Bay and Whitstable could have sprinkler systems installed following the devastating blaze in London.

Fearful residents living in the high-rise flats have called for increased safety measures after at least 79 people lost their lives in last week’s Grenfell Tower fire disaster.

Canterbury City Council has responded by saying it will take action at its three tower blocks if the fire service recommends it this week.

An urgent review was set to be carried out at Elizabeth Court and Margaret Court in Herne Bay and Windsor House in Whitstable.

Retired electrician, Ben Catchpole, 66, lives on the fifth floor of the nine-storey Margaret Court in Kings Road.

“We like living here but I don’t feel safe anymore,” he said this week. “I think Canterbury City Council should install the sprinklers.

“It would be an improvement, but we can also see daylight through the front doors which needs sorting as a fire could spread very quickly.

“The internal walls are not brick and would not hold anything back.”

Yvonne Arrowsmith, 63, who has lived on the second floor of Margaret Court for two years, says the tragedy in London has worried residents.

“Seeing the fire in London has really made me think about safety and the need for sprinklers,” she said.

“They would be a good way of putting any fire out and could make something good come out of the Grenfell incident.”

The fire service review comes after at least 79 people were killed when the 24-storey Grenfell Tower in north Kensington went up.

Housing provider East Kent Housing, which manages the buildings on behalf of the city council, has been in contact with residents since.

It says the cladding on its blocks is an external wall insulation system, which does not use the same material as the Grenfell block cladding widely blamed for spreading the catastrophic blaze.

Retired railway worker Anthony Bush, 68, who has lived on the seventh floor of Margaret Court for 15 years, says the London fire has made him worry.

“I would like to see sprinklers here,” he said.

“The council has told us it is not the same cladding, but it would be nice to know the type and whether it is flammable.

“Everybody loves living here, but it wouldn’t take much to put some fire extinguishers and sprinklers up here.”

Daphne Smith, a great-grandmother-of-two who has lived on the fifth floor for eight years, says she has bought herself an extinguisher and a fire blanket.

"I would like to see sprinklers here..." - Anthony Bush

The 71-year-old said: “I think the council should put an extinguisher on every landing and fire blankets in every flat.

“Most fires start in ovens or cookers and if people have blankets with them, they could put it out before it spreads.

“I also think the fire doors should be redone because they blow in the wind.”

Grandmother-of-four Pauline Crowhurst, 83, who lives on the seventh floor, added: “Everyone is worried here and I think the council should have a public meeting where we can all go and discuss it.”

City council spokesman Rob Davies says the authority is investigating all concerns.

“The three blocks do not have a sprinkler system installed, as is the case with the vast majority of similar blocks up and down the country,” he said.

“We have Kent Fire and Rescue inspecting all three blocks this week and we will act on any new recommendations they make.

“This could include additional fire suppression work such as sprinkler systems.

“The cladding on our blocks is an external wall insulation system.

“It is not the same system and does not use the same materials as at Grenfell Tower.

“East Kent Housing officers are visiting our blocks on a daily basis and we will ensure other points raised by residents are looked into thoroughly.”