The emergency services were eventually summoned to help free residents of Maple Walk Apartments in Decatur who lived above the ground floor.

Tenants had found notices on their doors saying they would have no access to the stairs.

“They gave us no notice. No nothing. They were already taking the stairs down when we got the notice this morning,” resident Shawnta Tiller told WSB-TV.

“This is crazy. How can you cut off access to the stairs and everybody’s in their apartments?” added neighbour Andre Williams.

Some residents had received a letter saying that the stairs needed emergency repairs, and that tenants would be reimbursed for hotel costs for the time they’d be required to move out.

However, they say that the stairs were abruptly removed, with no prior warning having been given.

The stranded residents were eventually freed when local reporter Sophia Choi called in firefighters to help.

Workmen told Choi that work on the stairs will be completed shortly.