A SURVIVOR of the Grenfell Tower tragedy has spoken of her shock at the major fire at the Cube student accommodation, which brought back memories of the fateful disaster.

Sandra Ruiz, a former resident of the London tower block and spokesperson for the Grenfell United campaign group, told a press conference held at the site of the fire, in Bradshawgate, Bolton, that she and her fellow committee members had been “clearly impacted and shocked by what we saw”.

“The initial feeling was we have got to go up there and see what we can do,” Ms Ruiz added.

“All we wanted to do was help in whichever way we could, whether that was making teas and coffees or listening to people.

"Because people from around the country came to help us in our hour of need.”

After coming to the town Ms Ruiz and fellow Grenfell survivors visited the University of Bolton to see the efforts being undertaken there to help the affected students and to offer their own support.

She added: “The support they are receiving is really heartwarming, because it has been excellent.”

Turning to the response of emergency services, Ms Ruiz said: “Clearly they have made some steps forward in the lessons that have been learned from Grenfell. But there’s still a long way to go.”

She added: “Nationwide we have to make sure that we hold the Government to account on the promises they have made.

“They have undertaken to take on the recommendations that Sir Martin

made.

"So this is not just Grenfell’s fight this is a nationwide problem that we need to solve.

“These are our young people, these are our future and we can’t put them in buildings that are dangerous.”