Dozens of people were evacuated from Windrush Tower, in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, left, after a Police Community Support Officer spotted smoke coming out of a flat on the 14th floor.

More than 40 firefighters were called to the block of flats shortly before 4pm yesterday. However, a spokesman for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said that firefighters had not found a blaze when they reached the flat.

Mother-of-three Joanna Clarke, 23, who lives on the ground floor, said: “I didn’t know what was going on until I heard all the sirens and fire engines.

“We didn’t hear any alarms going off.”

Residents were allowed back into their flats at 4.30pm.

Thames Valley Police said that officers were investigating the incident but would not give any further details.