CALLS have been made for all tower blocks to be installed with sprinkler systems as the death toll from the West London flats fire continues to rise.

Sir David Amess, the Conservative MP for Southend West, said the fire at the 24-storey Grenfell Tower, in North Kensington, is a “huge disaster” for the country.

The MP, who is chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Fire Safety Rescue Group, said: “Over and again we spoke about the need for sprinklers and following the Lakanal disaster in 2009, the coroner said in 2013 that the 4,000 tower blocks should have a proper audit done and sprinklers, if need be, should be fitted retrospectively.

“Sprinklers stop lives being lost as a result of fire. You can’t put any amount of money on a person’s life.”

Southend has a number of high rise tower blocks - including four in the town centre which are due for demolition. Basildon is home to Grade II listed Brooke House, in the town centre.

Leigh councillor Peter Wexham said that he had tabled a motion to Southend Council to have sprinklers installed in all new tower blocks four years ago.

Mr Wexham said: “It went to council and referred on and we had meetings with officers. The outcome was that they cannot enforce it or insist it is done because it is not in the rules laid down by Government.

“The development companies fight to resist it as it put up the costs and the Government does not want the cost put up. The insurance companies say that there will be more damage done to the properties through water going everywhere whereas the fire can be retained to a flat.”

Ann Holland, deputy leader of Southend Council and a serving Fire Authority member, said: “We work closely with the fire service to ensure that resources are targeted towards the most vulnerable buildings in our community and have worked with them to install sprinkler systems at Mornington House and temporary accommodation on Southchurch Road under joint funding from the Fire Service and the council.”