FAMILIES discovered by the London Fire Brigade were living in overcrowded accommodation with 'the worst fire risks ever seen'.

Fire safety inspectors in Wembley have issued six prohibition notices on commercial buildings being used as homes on an industrial estate in the Alperton area.

Officers found about 150 people living in the six premises, one of which was above a garage.

The London Fire Brigade was alerted to the problem at the end of October after six people had to be rescued from a fire at an office block in Mount Pleasant.

A subsequent inspection of the building led to the discovery of 17 rooms with more than 50 people living in them.

Fire safety officers found there were 'virtually no fire safety features inside', including fire protection between different floors, and poor means of escape.

An LBF spokesman said: "Inspectors predicted that a more serious blaze could have easily taken place and ripped through the entire building, and residents would have struggled to escape."

When officers investigated the owner of the property, they discovered 21 people, including three children, were living in another building above a garage in nearby Beresford Avenue, with similar 'potentially lethal conditions'.

The brigade was then alerted to four more properties in the area, housing 80 people.

Those living in all of the properties have been told they will have to be evicted and are being supported by Brent Council.

Andrei Ganea, who works for Lucky Star Motors in Mount Pleasant, said he did not know people were living above his workplace.

He said: "It was strange because you did see people coming and going a lot, but there are lots of businesses around here.

"People are living here when they are not allowed to. It gives our business a bad name even though we have no involvement with it."

A worker employed nearby, who did not want to be named, added: "I had no idea at all, but then we are here in the workshop only during the day and we are busy, so do not notice. It doesn't bother me too much."

London Fire Brigade’s assistant commissioner for fire safety regulation, Steve Turek, said: “These buildings are potential death traps and it’s lucky nobody was killed as a result. Officers visiting these premises have described the breaches of fire safety as some of the worst they have ever seen.

“We immediately issued prohibition notices on all six buildings to stop them being used as living accommodation.”

London Fire Brigade is continuing to investigate other conversions in the area and is working with Brent Council and other agencies to rehouse those affected.