HALF of North-East renters are unaware of fire safety procedures following research carried out in the wake of the Grenfell tragedy.

At least 80 people are believed to have died in the blaze in London three months ago and a report has revealed today that 50 per cent of tenants in the region would not feel prepared in an emergency.

The report, published to mark Fire Door Safety Week this week, also found that more than a third of North-East tenants claimed there is not a clear fire escape route displayed in their building.

Hannah Mansell, Fire Door Safety Week spokeswoman and chair of the Passive Fire Protection Forum, said: “This new research shows that social housing landlords and building owners still have a long way to go to meet their fire safety responsibilities.

"It is astounding to learn that in the last three months so little has been done to address the concerns of tenants and residents.

“Many people do not realise that the real job of a fire door is to hold back fire, smoke and toxic gases, delaying the spread around a building and keeping the vital means of escape route clear.

"They only work properly if they are specified, manufactured, installed and maintained correctly, and of course, closed when a fire breaks out."

Around 54 per cent of North-East tenants surveyed by the British Woodworking Federation added that they have noticed damage to their building’s fire doors in recent months.

Thirty-nine per cent also stated they have seen fire doors deliberately propped open.