WHIlLE some residents have taken to social media and made direct contact with Nub News to tell of their plight, Thurrock Council finally responded with a statement late last night (Sunday, 26 December) and says it has been taking action in the wake of yesterday's fire at Lionel Oxley House in Grays.

The response from the council, which was received at 9.49pm just over an hour after Nub News contacted housing portfolio holder Luke Spillman and local ward councillors - who had claimed they were not being told what was happening - contacted council CEO Lyn Carpenter, details action by the authority.

It says: "This morning, Sunday 26 December, a fire at Lionel Oxley House, New Road, Grays was reported to Thurrock Council, resulting in 14 flats being left without power this evening.

"The fire was a result of an electrical fault in a communal bin area and was quickly responded to and contained by Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS).

"The fire resulted in a power outage in 14 flats and the lifts in the building are out of order. UK Power Networks and Mears engineers have been on site all afternoon and are continuing to resolve these faults."

The response added: "Cllr Luke Spillman, Cabinet Member for Housing, said: '14 flats have been left without power, all residents have been offered support and five families have been placed into temporary accommodation for the night.

'The Leader and I would like to urge any tenants from Lionel Oxley House who may be away for Christmas to please make contact with our housing department.

'I would like to thank all residents for their patience whilst ECFRS, council officers and our contractors have been on site this afternoon.

'I would also like to thank the council officers who have been working today, along with the help provided to them by UK Power Networks and Mears. As well as ECFRS for their hard work and quick response to the alarm this morning to contain the fire quickly and safely.

'UK Power Networks remain on site to resolve the faults caused by the fire and we will continue to support the families who's properties have been effected until they can safely return home'."

The response came after some residents told of their plight on social media last night.

One wrote: "We are pretty disgusted with this. we have been without power since this morning. We live on the 8th floor we are out of power since this morning.

"We just came back at 7pm with our special needs son and had to walk up 16 flights of stairs to find power is still out.

"Our frozen food is ruined. It's cold in here because they left us in December without any cladding. It feels like a fridge every night anyway. And now we can't heat the place either. Totally disgusted with this........"