Towels, underwear and toiletries are being donated at collection points around Crewe.

A local charity is also offering refreshments to anyone affected.

Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

A man says he went into the retirement complex and kicked down doors to rescue elderly residents after the huge blaze broke out.

Fire crews have been at the site since yesterday afternoon battling the fire at the Beechmere supported living complex in Rolls Avenue, Crewe, Cheshire.

Lee told BBC Radio Stoke he was called at 16:00 to say the place was on fire and he was initially told by fire crews that everyone in the building had to stay inside.

"I was like, 'my nan's in there, I'm going in' so we just went in, got a couple of other lads, we were just going in with police officers, kicking doors open, helping people out", he said.

"There were quite a few bed-bound people, we picked three or four, maybe five bed-bound people up. Me, couple of officers had to carry them out."

Lee Thomas
Newsreader, BBC Radio Stoke

I was the first BBC Radio Stoke reporter at the scene of the fire last night and it looked like a scene of devastation, the sky was orange and ash was falling from the sky.

Image source, Cheshire Fire Service

I've never seen so many firefighters in one place, there were crowds on the streets with everyone looking at the sky.

The area around the retirement complex in Crewe is pretty tightly packed with houses and there was a lot of concern from locals about people in the building.

As I spoke to residents, I could hear parts of the building falling away, glass cracking and floors failing.

Two people were taken to hospital suffering injuries not thought to be serious, said the ambulance service.

One was suffering chest pains and another an eye injury.

Residents living near the scene of the fire are continuing to be advised to keeping their windows and doors closed as there is a lot of smoke in the area, police said.

Collection points are being set up across Crewe as people donate clothes, bedding and more to help residents of a retirement complex in Crewe after the devastating fire.

Image source, Cheshire Fire Service

Cheshire East Council's Communities Facebook page, external is co-ordinating a list of places where residents can give items.

The Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust tweeted, external that it's looking into a staff appeal to help.

Allen Cook
BBC News

These photographs of the blaze last night in Crewe have been released by Cheshire Fire Service this morning.

Fire crews from across Cheshire and Staffordshire were called to fight the blaze.

BBC Radio Stoke's Lee Thomas who was covering the fire yesterday said he watched part of the retirement complex collapse as flames engulfed the building.

Image source, Cheshire Fire Service

Image source, Cheshire Fire Service

Image source, Cheshire Fire Service

Firefighters tackling the Beechmere complex blaze are facing "significant challenges" due to the size and severity of the fire.

Neil Griffiths, who is the fire commander in charge of the incident, said: “This is a substantial fire in a very large and complex building.

"More than 70 firefighters have been at the scene overnight tackling the blaze – the response effort has been immense.

“Our efforts have been hampered by the weather, the layout of the site and the access to it but I want to reassure everyone that we are doing all that we can to bring the fire under control as quickly as possible."

The Crewe retirement complex fire's dominating local newspaper coverage this morning:

• The Cheshire Live website says neighbours and care workers rushed to evacuate elderly residents, external
• It adds that a fundraising page has been set up by driving instructors in the Crewe area to raise money, external
• While the Stoke-on-Trent Live website says firefighters are likely to continue to tackle the blaze into the weekend, external

Firefighters are likely to remain at the Beechmere complex throughout the day and into the weekend, police say.

Image source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

Image source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

The building has sustained significant damage and has partially collapsed.

Efforts to fight the fire were hampered by the weather, the layout of the site and access to it said the fire service.

Image source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

Image source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

A number of road closures remain in place, including at Minshull New Road, Bradfield Road, Parkers Road and Underwood Lane.

The response by residents supporting those affected by the Beechmere complex fire has been "nothing short of remarkable," police said.

Local residents have been offering support by donating items and providing lifts to residents who had to be moved.

Image source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service

Residents were evacuated following the incident and initially taken to nearby rest centres.

“Your kind-hearted gesture will have been very much appreciated by everyone involved and I’m sure will have brought some comfort to the residents affected by the fire," said Supt Pete Crowcroft, from Cheshire police.

The Salvation Army and British Red Cross has also provided support at the site throughout the night into the morning – for both residents affected by the incident and firefighters who remain at the scene.

Jennie Aitken
Reporter, BBC Radio Stoke

I can still see the flames licking up into the sky at the Beechmere complex.

It's a very busy scene here, the firefighters are being handed water and bacon sandwiches, because they have been working tirelessly through the night to tackle this fire.

Image source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue

Image source, Cheshire Fire and Rescue

The structure itself is skeletal, it looks like scaffolding.

It's completely blackened, charred, there is the bare bones of brickwork left and I can see the iron balcony and railings that have just about stayed intact.

In the time that I've been here I've seen several of those balconies collapse, as this fire has just taken hold completely.

It's a real shock to look at.

The daughter of one resident moved from the Beechmere complex after a severe fire said her mum had been left with "only the clothes she was stood up in".

Claire Bagnall told BBC Radio Stoke that mum Nora, 85, had spent the night in temporary accommodation.

"She's just all disorientated," she said. "I don't think she realises just how serious it is, she seems to think she could go back today, she could just go back in and get her things, but that's not going to be the case. "

She also thanked emergency services and nearby residents who had helped.

"They were brilliant, they got everybody out and everybody rehoused."

"People were just donating clothes, food and drink - Crewe really did pull together last night."

Residents living near a fire at a residential complex in Crewe are being advised to keep doors and windows closed.

The Beechmere supported living complex remains alight after fire broke out on Thursday.

At it's height about 70 firefighters were involved in containing the fire and trying to prevent it spreading to neighbouring properties.

The public are being asked to avoid the area with a number of road closures still in place.

Any relatives with concerns have been advised to contact Cheshire Police.

A residential complex in Crewe has partially collapsed after a large fire which has continued to burn through the night.

Fire broke out in the roof Beechmere supported living complex shortly after 16:30.

About 150 residents were involved in an evacuation of the area, said Cheshire Police.

Dozens of firefighters have been tackling the fire, and working to protect surrounding homes.

Some residents spent the night in temporary accommodation, with others transported to an emergency rest centre, police said.