GOBSMACKED residents have been warned they're putting lives in danger... because they have pretty potted plants outside their homes.

Tenants living in the sheltered housing block, in Azelia Avenue, Wickford, have been ordered to shift the pots and colourful garden ornaments from outside their front doors within 48 hours.

In a letter sent to residents, Basildon Council claims the offending floral decorations are blocking a fire escape route.

Yet tenants, who are mostly pensioners, dismissed the claims as "ridiculous".

Jan Southcott, 59, is outraged at the demand.

She said: "I have a friend who knows a fireman, and when he came here he looked at our plant pots and said the fire service would ignore them.

"They could easily be kicked out of the way if needs be."

Residents also griped that promises from the council for non-slip flooring and motion-activated lights on stairwells had not been fulfilled.

Mrs Southcott added: "The floors and stairwells are an accident waiting to happen.

"With all these restrictions, it's like living in Alcatraz."

Chris Johnson, of Basildon Council, said the plant pots need to go due to safety concerns.

He said: "These safety measures follow strict, new fire regulations introduced by the Government.

"The regulations make it clear corridors which form a route of escape in public buildings must be free of any potential obstructions.

"While we want to maintain a homely environment for people living in sheltered accommodation, we must also make sure it is a safe and secure one."