People living in a block of flats in Stanmore were left worried after building work started on an extension without their knowledge.

In December 2007 planning permission was granted to CSM Properties to build 10 new flats in Everton Court, Honeypot Lane, as part of an extension to the existing flats.

The development was approved with three conditions attached: a scheme for storage and waste and anoher for vehicle access, both of which had to be approved by Harrow Council, and a survey of the existing trees and hedgerow on the land to ensure the appearance of the area is preserved.

On May 12 scaffolding was put on the building and following this the chimneys on top of the building were destroyed on June 9.

Residents claim they were not notified this was going to happen, as is required by the Party Wall Act 1996, and that the builders failed to check whether any of the flats used their chimneys.

Steve Ryatt, who lives on the top floor of the building, had water leak through his roof when the building work started.

He said: "I don't know whether I can walk out of the house. There is no netting, if anything fell from the building work it would kill somebody.

"I don't know what the council are going to do as they have practically finished the flats already."

Martin O'Donoghue, of Everton Court, said: "They only issued notices to four out of the nine residents.

"Tony McNulty MP has sent letters to building control at Harrow Council and it has been a slow process to get answers."

Michael Feehan, a representative of CSM property, which owns the freehold of the building, said: "We have complied with everything.

"We have fulfilled the conditions and the Party Wall Act. We lodged an application a couple of weeks ago. This is ridiculous."

The council said it had received an applcation for one of the conditions in June, but not the remaining two.

A council spokesman said: "As the works have commenced on site, this application is invalid and would be returned to the applicant's agent.

"We are preparing a report on enforcement action for our lawyers."