Grenfell Tower response: Government says 181 high-rise buildings across 51 local authorities have failed fire tests

Officials have been conducting tests on 600 high-rise buildings across the country

Tests have been conducted on 600 high-rise buildings after the blaze ripped through the 24-storey building in Kensington (Getty)

A total of 181 high-rise buildings have failed safety tests that were carried out after the Grenfell Tower fire, the Government has said.

Officials have been conducting tests on 600 high-rise buildings across the country after the blaze ripped through the 24-storey building in Kensington, west London, killing at least 80 people.

The Department for Communities said that the cladding from 181 high-rise buildings in 51 local authority areas had failed tests.

The highest number of these towers reportedly came from Salford, where 29 buildings were found with at-risk material, according to the Sun.

The news comes as the Government confirmed residents of Grenfell Tower who had been subletting illegally would not face prosecution.

Communities Secretary, Sajid David, said the protection would apply to anyone who came forward with information about people who were in their flats at the time of the fire.

Reports had suggested that some residents were unlawfully subletting their properties and were reluctant to inform authorities that people were missing.

Attorney general Jeremy Wright QC said: “Every piece of information will help the authorities accurately identify who was in the flats at the time of the fire. I hope this statement provides some much-needed clarity to residents and the local community, and encourages anyone with information to come forward.”

Meanwhile, Kensington and Chelsea council announced that people who had been forced to leave their homes near the tower would not have to pay rent.

Many in neighbouring accommodation had been told to move after the area's boiler was destroyed in the fire. The local council has now confirmed that any rent that had been taken out of residents' accounts would be refunded.

A council spokesperson said: “They will not have to pay rent from the date of the fire until the end of January 2018 when we will review the situation. If any resident has had a direct debit or standing order payment for their rent taken, this will be refunded.”