Families are still searching for answers - mayor

The fire broke out at the Summerland entertainment complex in 1973

The mayor of Greater Manchester has backed a formal application for a fresh inquest into the deaths of 50 people killed in the 1973 Summerland disaster on the Isle of Man.

Andy Burnham shared his support for the Justice for Summerland Group, made up of survivors and relatives of victims.

The group is calling for the island's Attorney General to reopen the case, which originally recorded a verdict of misadventure.

Burnham said: "If they're still fighting it means things were not done properly at the time and they didn't get the answers that they deserved."

About 3,000 people were at the Summerland entertainment complex in Douglas when a fire broke out on the evening of 2 August 1973.

It was believed the blaze was started by three boys from Liverpool smoking.

'Left in the wilderness'

Lending his support, Burnham said: "I know from my experience from working with the Hillsborough families, families are often left in the wilderness.

"It's too easy in this country to cover up, it's too hard for families to get to the truth.

"I know if they're still fighting it means things were not done properly at the time and they didn't get the answers that they deserved," he added.

A public inquiry held in the aftermath of the Summerland disaster found there were "no villains" and only human beings who made mistakes.

Justice for Summerland has appointed Belfast-based human rights law firm Phoenix Law to act for the families.

Darragh Mackin from the legal firm last year represented many families of 48 young people killed in the Stardust fire in Dublin in 1981, who successfully fought for their own fresh inquest.