A BUSINESSMAN has denied that a flat he rented out is a fire trap, after the property was condemned by the fire service.

Frankie Tsang, chairman of the Worcestershire Chinese Association, hit back at the decision to shut his flat, above Deshi Bazaar, in Lowesmoor, Worcester.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service deemed that the property failed to meet safety requirements, after inspecting it during a raid on Black Cherry strip club, which is next door.

Mr Tsang said that workers from Cheng Ye restaurant, in Lowesmoor, used to live at the flat, however he now believes that they have left.

He added: "Nobody is living there now as far as I know.

"My estate agent has informed the tenants that no one should live there.

"I think it's a normal flat, there's nothing out of the ordinary."

Mr Tsang, who owns the property through his company Dewpark Properties Limited, thinks that two or three people used to live in the flat.

He added that he intends to fix the problems before the fire service reinspect the property by the end of February.

Fire inspectors found that the property's alarm and escape systems were insufficient, along with the flat's fire risk assessment and safety management precautions.

They also said the site had inadequate measures to prevent fires.

A spokesman for the fire service added: "As a consequence of [the raid] we became aware of flat 57a, which is above part of Black Cherry.

"The property is completely separate from Black Cherry but we were allowed access to the premises and consequently served an enforcement and prohibition notice on the owner of the property as it did not meet the necessary fire safety requirements to keep people safe in the event of a fire.

"The owner is aware that failure to comply with a prohibition notice would be an offence under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005."

The notice, which prevents the flat from being occupied, was issued on November 17.

The fire service also issued an enforcement notice, which means that the necessary works must be completed by February 20.

David Barrett, the owner of Black Cherry, claims over 70 officers from the police and other agencies were involved in the raid on his club.

He and the club's manager were arrested on suspicion of modern slavery, although they were released under investigation shortly afterwards - and neither of them face charges.

GJS Dillon, Mr Tsang's estate agent, was unavailable for comment.