RESIDENTS say they are living in fear for their lives after a spate of close fires forced them to flee their homes.

Firebugs targeted two blocks of flats in Priesthill’s Barrat Circle estate, bounded by Linnhead Drive and Househillmuir Road, on Sunday morning.

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Two children, aged two and three, ended up in hospital following the blazes which started around 1am in two adjacent closes on Linnhead drive.

Neighbours rushed to the aid of a man who was screaming for help to rescue his partner trapped inside one of the burning blocks.

As reported by the Evening Times, locals have been complaining for years about the state of their scheme, where the majority of closes unsecured and fly tipping, syringes and rubbish line the streets.

They are now demanding help from Glasgow City Council and the police to help protect their homes, and have warned of fatalities if the situation doesn’t improve.

Morag Whyte, 48, has lived in the scheme for three years with her husband John, and was in one of the burning blocks when the fire took hold.

She said: “I could smell smoke and then we heard screaming upstairs. The man upstairs was screaming for help as his partner was stuck inside their flat and the fire was right outside their front door.

“The next minute the close next to use filled with smoke as well, we couldn’t believe it.

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“I had my grandson staying with me, he’s only four, and the next close has loads of kids staying in it too.

“One family had to be taken to hospital. If this carries on people are going to die.

“I’m terrified to go to sleep in case there’s another fire.”

“As the closes aren’t locked, people get in and set fire to everything – bins, bulk uplifts.

“A few weeks ago there was another one - a mattress was set on fire in the back court, and I had to call 999. I woke up at 3am and the whole place was alight.”

Local Activist Donna Foote said the area is soon to benefit from a £1.3m boost from the council and the Scottish Government, but before any work is carried out the social problems have to be addressed.

“She said: “We need to address the anti social behaviour around the flats before someone dies, this is urgent and can’t be ignored. Priesthill residents are devastated that families are being forced to live in these conditions in 2016.”

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman confirmed they were called to the scene around 1.05am on Sunday, to reports of a fire in the bin room of the ground floor of a block of flats. When they arrived they discovered “a second fire had taken hold” on the second floor of another block of flats.

They worked to put out the flames and left the scene by 2.30am.

In total eight adult casualties were checked by paramedics, while two children – a boy and a girl - were taken to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. A third girl was also given a precautionary check.

Detective Sergeant Phil Peacock, Govan CID, has appealed for information on the latest incidents and said: “These reckless acts could have had far more serious consequences. To senselessly jeopardise the safety of residents, including children, will not be tolerated by police or the community.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact the Criminal Investigation Department based at Govan.”

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A Glasgow city council spokesman said: “Antisocial behaviour is a blight on communities and is carried out by a minority of mindless individuals. Their destructive actions impact on neighbourhoods and to tackle this, the council works closely on a day-to-day basis with partners such Police Scotland, Community Safety Glasgow and the Fire Service.

“Instances of fly-tipping and graffiti in public places should be reported to the Environmental Task Force for removal and we’d also urge anyone who knows anything about the fire raising to contact the police.”