One of the flats that was destroyed in the flames on Tuesday belonged to a member of staff at Sandiacre Court Care Centre, a care home just a few blocks away from the Springfield Mill building.

She has been left with nothing but the clothes she walked into work with that day. The care home staff are pooling together money, clothes and toiletries for her and her boyfriend, and Hudson Healthcare, the Home’s operator, has matched all the money raised by staff.

Kirsty Carter, the Home Manager, said: “We are absolutely devastated for our colleague. She has lost everything. We are doing all we can to support her in this awful time. If Covid-19 has taught us anything, it is that in times of difficulty we must come together to support the people around us.”