FAMILIES are planning legal action to stop their tower block being used as a missile base during the Olympic Games.

Households have been outraged ever since the Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced proposals to place three short-range missile launchers on the roof of Fred Wigg tower, in Montague Road, Leytonstone, as an anti-terrorist measure for the event this summer.

Residents at the 17-storey block are now setting up a Tenants Association. They are to meet with solicitors on Saturday June 9 to discuss the preparation of a joint legal challenge.

The MoD, which placed dummy missile launchers on the tower last month as part of a training exercise, says no final decision has been made and insists residents will be safe.

But Nihal Balci, 32, who lives in the block with her two young sons, said she feared for her family's safety.

She said: "The biggest problem is they announced the plans to the public and press, so everyone knows about it.

"It makes us a target."

Ms Balci said there was enthusiastic support for legal action.

She said: "Initially occupants suggested that only legal aid beneficiaries should go ahead and start a legal case but now the majority is reaching an agreement to file a case all together."

Neighbour Hilal Bozkurt, 42, said households had not been consulted at all over the plans.

She added: "The MoD only sent out a leaflet which looked like a local pizza takeaway promotion to announce the decision to put high velocity missiles on the roof. It is bizarre.

"During the Olympics, I have to leave home for work at around four in the morning.

"MoD claims it would be safe but I am very concerned as our street will be blocked by army vehicles."

A MoD spokesman said: “MoD has now entered into legal agreements with all landowners, including the local authority responsible for the Fred Wigg Tower, and we are pleased that all landowners have now agreed to support our work to keep the Games, London and the UK secure.

“Although no final decision has been taken by the Government as to whether this capability will be deployed as part of Olympics security arrangements, if deployed they would be located at the sites for the duration of the Games."

There are also proposals to place missiles at a variety of other sites in east London, including on land by the William Girling Reservoir and Waltham Way in Chingford.

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