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Combustible cladding found on 11 towers after Grenfell fire

Tests have revealed that at least 11 tower blocks across England are fitted with combustible cladding, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid has said.

The towers are in eight local authority areas.

People living in the 16-storey Lynher, Tamar and Tavy blocks in Devonport, Plymouth, have received letters telling them their homes are clad with a combustible material similar to that at Grenfell Tower.

The Chalcots Estate in Camden in north London, where cladding is being removed, is another of the locations affected.

Manchester is also on the list. Wythenshawe Community Housing Group in south Manchester said it was removing "78 feature panels".

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Around 600 high-rise buildings in England are believed to be fitted with some form of cladding, the Government has said.

Theresa May said local authorities and fire services were "taking all possible steps" to ensure the towers are safe, while hundreds more buildings are due to be checked.

The Government is performing tests on 100 tower blocks a day, with results coming back "within hours", the Prime Minister said.

A Number 10 spokeswoman said residents of affected buildings could be rehomed if the blocks are found to be unsafe after further tests.

:: Tower fire released deadly hydrogen cyanide

In a statement in the Commons, Theresa May said the chair of the inquiry into the Grenfell Tower disaster will produce an interim report "as soon as possible".

Former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman said the results of cladding tests were "chilling" and called on the Prime Minister to "get a grip on this personally".

The Grenfell Tower disaster would have been avoided if the Government had acted on the findings of an inquest into the deaths of six people in the 2009 Lakanal House fire, Ms Harman added.

At least 79 people are dead, or missing, presumed dead, following the blaze.

Kensington MP Emma Dent Coad told Mrs May that residents in her constituency had been left "traumatised and frightened" after the fire.

:: Inquiry must not fail victims, firefighters warn MPs

Earlier, the chief executive of Kensington and Chelsea Council resigned following criticism of the authority's reaction to the tragedy.

Nicholas Holgate said Communities Secretary Sajid Javid had "required the leader of the council to seek my resignation".

London Mayor Sadiq Khan said he welcomed the resignation but that it was "still not enough".

"I think it's not sustainable for those in positions of power and influence in Kensington and Chelsea to stay there bearing in mind the lack of confidence from those residents," he said.

:: Grenfell Tower residents promised fire-resistant cladding in 2012

As of midday on Thursday, just under £1m of Government funding had been distributed to families affected by the blaze.

The Grenfell Response Team denied claims victims were being given emergency accommodation in tower blocks, adding that 140 hotel placements have been made for people living in Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk.

Victims' outstanding energy bills have been written off.

On Wednesday, Mr Javid announced 68 new social housing units at a luxury development in Kensington had been acquired for victims.

Meanwhile, every tower block in Birmingham is to be fitted with a sprinkler system.

All 213 blocks in its area are being assessed, city council leader John Clancy said.