Firefighters are calling for urgent action from Bradford Council to repair a leak which is repeatedly triggering the alarm system in a block of flats.

The system is repeatedly being set off by a damp ceiling which is short-circuiting a smoke detector.

In the last fortnight firefighters have been called to the flats in Greenfield Avenue, Shipley, six times - only to find yet another false alarm.

Station officer Stephen Nunn said: "It is becoming a regular occurrence and to be honest everyone is getting fed up of it. The damp ceiling in one of the ground floor flats is triggering the smoke detector and whenever one goes off the rest of the fire alarms in the block are activated too.

"Apart from the cost of sending two fire engines out every time, this is a serious safety hazard. The residents automatically think it is a false alarm, and while we are dealing with this there may be a real emergency somewhere else.

"There is not a lot we can do, other than express our concern to the Council. If it isn't fixed someone could end up getting hurt."

Shelley Bland, 18, who lives in the ground floor flat with her 13-month-old daughter Amber, says the Council has put her on a repairs waiting list.

She said: "I first noticed the problem with damp five months ago, and then two weeks ago it started setting the alarm off. I've told the housing office but they've just put me on the computer list.

"It's getting embarrassing. Sometimes it's the middle of the night when it goes off. I have to keep apologising to my neighbours and the fire brigade."

Bradford Council pledged to investigate the problem after it was bought to its attention by the Telegraph & Argus.

A spokesman for the Council's housing department said: "The fire alarm control panel in this block of flats was checked after a fault was reported but was found to be in working order.

"We have no record of any report of a leak or dampness causing problems with the smoke detector in that flat but we will investigate this complaint.''

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