‘Awful situation’ as people unable to return home after fire

Residents say they feel “disheartened” that they may not be able to return home for Christmas after a fire ripped through a block of flats.

People living in nine flats have been moved into temporary accommodation in hotels following the blaze on Marigold Road in Frome on Wednesday night.

No one was seriously injured and an investigation into the cause of the fire is under way.

Selwood Housing, who own the flats, said it is “hard to estimate” when residents can return to their homes and they are working on a longer-term housing plan.

Jessica Nutley, who moved into the block in 2022, said she is making “back-up plans” for Christmas, but feels disheartened that she might not be able to spend the festive holiday home.

She is helping to coordinate basic supplies to some of the other residents.

Fair Frome foodbank has been delivering essentials like toothpaste, shampoo and basic food items.

Coordinator at the foodbank, Lenka Grimes, said it is an “awful situation”, with some of the residents losing everything.

“This is going to be quite a long process because the building is in a pretty poor condition,” she said.

Ms Buchanan said it is a “very difficult time for the nine families who are facing a period of uncertainty at this time of year”.

She added that everybody in the community just “wants to help”.

Selwood Housing bosses have said they are “working with the local authority to consider what the medium and longer-term solutions are”.

Verena Buchanan, group operations director for Selwood Housing, told BBC Somerset’s Mel Everett, there is “significant damage” to the block.

A structural engineer will be on site and “we will then know more about the status of the block”, she added.