DOZENS of lives were put at risk by a massive blaze after vandals targeted vital water supplies.

Firefighters were delayed in tackling the inferno on the 10th floor of a Glasgow tower block after several dry-riser outlets were vandalised.

Today their actions in Pinkston Drive, Sighthill, were condemned by fire chiefs.

Almost 50 emergency calls were made by frantic residents after fire broke out shortly before 9pm last night.

It was initially feared people were trapped inside the building and at the height of the blaze around 25 firefighters were at the scene.

When crews arrived they tried to establish a link at the dry-riser on the eighth floor but it had been damaged.

They found a similar situation on the seventh and ninth floors and were forced to run a hose from the fourth floor.

A Strathclyde Fire & Rescue spokesman said: "These actions caused the delay in firefighting which could have had serious consequences, leaving either our crews or residents injured."

A probe is being carried out today at the flat where the blaze broke out. It's been cordoned off and a police officer is standing guard.

One resident said: "I live three floors above the fire and was worried for myself and my two children.

"Our flat is very smoky this morning and we are trying to keep the windows open to get rid of the smell.

"We weren't evacuated last night but it is frightening to hear this morning that the dry-risers had been vandalised."

One man, who lives on the 19th floor of a neighbouring block, said: "It is a real problem if there is a fire and you live on the floors above it.

"What on earth would you do? It's not as if you could exactly just jump out."

The fire broke out just yards from blocks of flats which were recently demolished and near a popular social club which was recently destroyed by fire.