Six householders have received help and advice from the Council following yesterday's blaze in Harwich.

The householders, two of which lived in the five properties gutted in West Street, contacted the Council over accommodation issues.

Two adults and their adult son - who are TDC tenants - were placed in bed and breakfast and will be re-housed by the weekend.

A single mother and her two children were offered bed and breakfast but she decided to stay with her parents. The Council will remain in contact with her and assist should her circumstances change.

There were four other households, not living in the houses destroyed in the fire, who contacted the Council.

They were either in homes which suffered smoke damage or had problems with their electricity supplies.

One was a family with three children, one was a father with an eight-month-old child, another was a single man and a further couple.

All were directed to the Salvation Army reception centre in West Street last night until power was restored around 10pm. The Council is continuing to liaise with the centre over people's needs.

Paul Honeywood, TDC's Cabinet Member for Housing, said that everyone was doing whatever possible to help all those affected.

"This has really brought out the true community spirit which exists in Harwich," he said. "Everyone is pulling out all the stops with offers of help and rallying round at this difficult time.

"The Council is playing its part but there are so many others coming forward to assist and I would like to thank them all for what they are doing."

Harwich Town Mayor Barry Brown said that Harwich Town Council is holding a meeting to assess the current situation.

"Setting up a 'Mayor's Appeal' will enable the strong community spirit to be channelled first of all to the immediate needs of the people involved over the Christmas Period and then making sure longer term needs are met," he said.

The Town Council would like to hear from anyone affected by the blaze to see if it can help. They should contact the clerk, Lucy Ballard on 01255 507211.

TDC has staff at the site today, including structural engineers, and will be looking to ensure that all the gutted properties are made safe.

The fronts of the five properties are being shored up and any loose materials will be demolished.

8/12/11