Grenfell tower

Both MPs and residents have raised concerns about fire safety at tower blocks in the area over recent years. So just what are the possible issues surrounding last night’s blaze? Our Science Editor, Tom Clarke, has been looking into what we know.

Those residents who managed to escape from their flats in Grenfell Tower have been evacuated to a nearby community centre, where they’re being offered food and shelter.

Local residents have said that they had reported safety concerns, despite a recent multi-million pound refurbishment of the block. We were joined by the leader of Kensington and Chelsea council, Nick Paget-Brown.

Throughout the morning, eye-witness testimony has been emerging from those who escaped from the fire. Here are a few of those we have been hearing from – and be warned, some of their stories are upsetting.

Smoke is still billowing from the block – more than 11 hours after the fire broke out, while residents slept in the middle of the night. At least twelve people are confirmed dead but that number is expected to rise as firefighters make their way through the tower. Another 50 people have been taken to hospital.