Fire evacuation students face rising hotel bills

Part of the former Hotspur Press collapsed due to the fire

Worried students who were evacuated from their city-centre apartments following a huge fire at a neighbouring building said they still did not know when they will be allowed to return.

Residents of two blocks were told to leave their flats on Monday after the disused Hotspur Press building in Manchester city centre was engulfed in flames.

Jack Guo, a student from China, said he could not afford to stay in a hotel for very long, adding: "We're unsure where we're going next because the price is rising."

Manchester City Council said it was trying to help but pointed out it did not have any statutory responsibility to rehome people living in privately rented accommodation.

'Very challenging'

The authority said the responsibility lay with the building's manager and others.

A council spokesperson said it was liaising with them to ensure they are meeting their responsibilities to residents.

Mr Guo said the council "helped us through this very challenging situation and we appreciate that. We're unsure what will happen next."

Hotspur House, a 225-year-old former printing press and mill on Cambridge Street, close to Manchester Oxford Road railway station, partially collapsed following the fire.

The building was destroyed after strong winds whipped up the flames, causing the blaze to spread rapidly throughout the building's wooden internal structure.

As firefighters battled to get the blaze under control, embers reached 1 Cambridge Street, resulting in the blocks' evacuation.