FIRE alarms have been removed from the communal stairways at a block of flats in Braintree after property managers claimed they were “unnecessary and undesirable”.

Residents in flats on Manor Street, Braintree, were shocked to see the alarms being taken out.

Resident Jonathan Laver said: “I feel it is dangerous.

The central stairwell had a fire alarm on every level, but they have been removed.

“I am concerned for my safety and everyone else’s. In the current climate, you would think fire safety would increase not decrease.”

The fire service has been called on to investigate.

Countrywide, the property management firm, operates a “stay put” policy in the flats, and believe fire alarms in communal areas lead to “false alarms”.

A spokesman said: “The property complies with building regulation guidance therefore a fire alarm and detection system is not required in the communal areas.

“It is understood the current fire detection and alarm system is regularly being tampered with and is effectively non-functioning.

“In accordance with expert third party advice to our client to remove the system this instruction has been followed. It is unnecessary and undesirable for a fire alarm system to be provided.”

Rather than fixing them they have been removed.

Mark Earwicker, head of technical fire safety at Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, said: “When the team receive reports of an alleged fire risk, a fire safety officer will attend the building in question, carry out a detailed audit and work with the property owner or landlord depending on their findings.”