Elderly residents are living in fear at a tower block where a gang was pictured brandishing a machete and other bladed weapons in a stairwell.

Pensioners in sheltered housing at the 10-storey high rise in Birmingham are said to be locking themselves in after dark due to worries over safety and security, including a lack of CCTV cameras.

Two tenants told Metro.co.uk there were ongoing concerns about intruders at Bakeman House, in South Yardley, after a disturbing picture showed the teenagers flashing an array of weapons.

They said that front doors were easily bypassed at the block, and Birmingham City Council had removed CCTV cameras last year because they were deemed not to be legally compliant.

The vast majority of the 120 flats are home to over-55s who have moved into wheelchair-accessible accommodation.

The council said this week that police had been ‘very active’ in deterring youths from hanging around inside the block, repairs have been carried out to the front doors and it was looking to completely replace the entry system.

A representative of the Bakeman House Sheltered Housing Board, who asked not to be named, said: ‘The picture of the kids with the machete only shows four out of a gang of about fifteen youths.

‘There are gangs in the area who meet up for fights and cause problems inside the block and outside. Nobody wants to leave the block after dark, the elderly do all their shopping during the day and they lock themselves in their flats and that’s it, they’re too worried to go out.’

The resident said that CCTV had been removed by the council, which is the building’s leaseholder, because they were not ‘legally compliant’ and it was easy for people to slipstream in through the doors.

He added: ‘The gangs come in and hang around in the stairwell smoking weed or larking about. There are people scared to death.

‘The fire brigade have also been out the one time saying they are chucking burning paper down the chutes and we’re worried that these idiots might set fire to the trash. We know that gangs are a problem everywhere but when you see they have machetes it takes things to a whole new level.’

The man was sent a letter by the council explaining the reasons for removing the CCTV system after a review.

It reads: ‘Bakeman House has been identified for decommissioning and this is based upon the last 2 years of service and other factors such as a low number of image requests, system not fit for purpose and non-compliance with CCTV legislation.’

Another resident, who pays rent to the council through the sheltered housing scheme, echoed the complaints about security.

The retired aviation engineer, 63, who also asked not to be named, said: ‘People are petrified basically. We’re all of the opinion you close your door after dark, you lock it and that’s it.

‘Come the weekends people don’t even like putting rubbish out because they’re worried someone will be hanging around the rubbish shoots.

‘We have problems with the main doors because they can be easily bypassed and the council removed the CCTV. It wasn’t a great deterrent but at least it was something. The other day my son and granddaughter visited and there was a load of kids smoking weed. She was worried about me but what am I meant to tell her?’

Police took action after the picture of the youths with the machete appeared on social media, with a patrol seizing three weapons.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Police confirmed this week that officers had gone to the housing block at around 5.30pm on January 30.

Five teenagers were detained and a machete and two further knives were recovered. The youths, two aged 13, two aged 14 and one 16-year-old, had their details taken by officers before they were returned to their homes.

Two of the youths aged 14 and 16 have subsequently been interviewed as investigations continue.

A spokesperson for the council said: ‘We are aware in recent weeks of groups of young lads hanging around the tenth floor. The police are also aware and have been very active in deterring the youths.

‘They have administered ASB [Anti-Social Behaviour] warnings to a large number of them and confiscated property.

‘We are aware some are council tenants and are looking to identify them but this will take time. The youths vary in ages with most being 15 and 17 and come from across Birmingham.’

The spokesperson confirmed the CCTV had been removed as it did not meet the ‘appropriate legal requirements’ and added: ‘Birmingham City Council are looking at totally replacing the door system in the next financial year, subject to funding we receive.

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