Charities helping tenants forced to leave flats
BBCVolunteer workers have been drafted in to help dozens of residents sleeping on a leisure centre floor after being evacuated from a block of flats.
The fire service issued a prohibition notice after a loss of power and water hit the Horizon Building in Borough Road in Sunderland city centre on Tuesday.
The city council set up a reception centre at the nearby Raich Carter Leisure Centre in Hendon for tenants with nowhere to stay.
One 22-year-old tenant, who did not wish to be named, said it was "not ideal" and he wanted answers as to whether he would get back £3,400 he had paid to a letting agency for a one-bed studio flat.
He said: "I've been sleeping in my office in Washington and been having to wash using bottled water.
"It's not ideal and I'm not getting any answers as to whether I will get the money I've paid upfront for six months if we can't go back in."
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFS) said it had no choice in issuing the order after "a loss of essential fire safety systems".
The Salvation Army's divisional response co-ordinator for the North East, Major Stephen Slade, said his organisation and workers from the British Red Cross, would be on hand to help residents over the next few days.
He said: "We will cope with the number of people who need help and hopefully it won't be for long as they go to friends and family over the next few days.
"They are in a difficult position but the local authority is doing all it can to make sure life runs as smoothly as possible.
"We are here to help people whatever situation they are in and its a privilege for us to be able to do that."
The city council said it was having talks with the building's managers, who rent the flats out through letting agencies.
It also said that it had also served a legal notice on managers after another power blackout last week, urging them to make sure measures to restore power more quickly were in place.
The council said many tenants were staying with friends and family, but the reception centre could provide the "basics" to make people as comfortable as possible.
'Not very comfortable'
Resident Loges praised the local authority for making sure he had food and water during a "difficult time".
The student from India said: "It's been difficult as I'm an international student and don't have connections in the area.
"I've been sleeping the sports centre and don't know what I'm going to do. The council has provided us with essentials."
Serene, also a student, said she was also having to sleep in the leisure centre.
"I've been in a sleeping bag on the floor and it's not very comfortable," she said.
"I'm going to have to find another place to stay and it will be a huge hassle carrying all my things from the ninth floor."