A resident living close to the high-rise tower block woke up to screams of "Grenfell Tower's on fire".

Robert Dorey quickly got up to help unlock a gate in an allotment nearby, behind which residents were trapped as they attempted to escape the blaze.

Mr Dorey, a nearby resident, helped some of those running from the burning tower.

He said: "We were shocked at how quickly the fire spread, within 10 minutes it was all up the side."

His daughter, Sam Dorey had come to support him as he was evacuated from his flat, near Grenfell.

Miss Dorey said: "Mum and dad lived in there, they phoned me up at 4am.

Flames engulfed the building in west London

"They could hear the screams. It's terrible that's happened but everyone is coming together.

"There's debris all over Bassatt Road and Oxford Gardens, the debris flew off and has spread for blocks."

Mr Dorey went on to tell getwestlondon : "The tenants association of Grenfell Tower made a complaint about fire safety to the TMO and council.

"When we ran out into the garden we could hear screams, and there's nothing we could do.

"There were kids screaming for help."

"There were kids screaming for help"

He added: "They didn't listen to the voices of the residents. They didn't want to listen to what they had to say.

"There's 120 flats in there, nearly 500 people. They're mostly families with young children.

"At 2am the police were banging everyone's doors and shouting to get out. You could see the debris flying out and landing in the gardens.

Forty engines were called to the 27-storey block of flats at 12.54am on Wednesday
Forty engines were called to the 27-storey block of flats at 12.54am on Wednesday

"They wanted everyone to get away from the debris.

"They evacuated everyone again, just in case the building collapses.

"We can't even go back in to use the toilet so we have to go to the local church.

"But it's a very small price to pay compared to everyone who lives in the tower."

At least 12 people have died with dozens more in hospital including 18 in critical care .

The raging inferno started just before 1am with hundreds of firefighters helping to put out the flames.

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