Cladding will be stripped from a Finsbury Park tower block after fire safety checks found it was not safe.

Tenants and leaseholders in Fyfield House on the Six Acres Estate won’t have to leave their homes while work is carried out, and town hall chiefs have emphasized the building is safe to live in.

Fire wardens are patrolling around the clock as a precaution, and the work could take some time as the rendering will need to be removed first.

The tests were carried out as part of Islington Council’s fire safety checks on 35,000 homes in the borough which began following the Grenfell Tower fire. The cladding used was expanded polystyrene (EPS), which is safe to use as an insulation material but not suitable for tower blocks – those taller than 18m.

Islington’s housing chief Cllr Diarmaid Ward said: “We are taking action as quickly as we can – it’s important to remember there is no increased risk of fire, and no reason to be alarmed.”

“It is safe for Fyfield’s residents to continue living in the building with the extra measures that are in place.

“As always, we are working closely with the London Fire Brigade and they are aware of our actions so far and our plans to remove the insulation.”

Last year cladding was stripped from Baithwaite House off Old Street as tests found it was similar to the one used on Grenfell Tower.

Letters have gone round the estate informing people of the work, and they will be kept abreast of the work throughout.