ORGANISATIONS and individuals in Hampshire were quick to offer help to people affected by a tower block blaze which left at least 17 people dead.

Specialist urban search and rescue teams are being brought in to make the 24-storey tower block safe in north Kensington to allow firefighters and the police to carry out investigations, following the devastating blaze that started in the early hours of Wednesday.

Search dogs will also be used to help locate the missing in the wreckage.

All Saints Church in Totton has rallied round volunteers to help with a collection which has received consideration interest from hundreds of organisations on social media.

One of the organisers, Tony Judd said: “It is important that we help the needy after the disaster in West London so we organising a rally to show how united we are and provide essential items to help people in need.”

Brooke Watterson, 24, an advisor at People Plus, is spearheading a campaign to collect items and already has "three to four van loads" of donated items which were given via the Saints Pub in Millbrook.

She said: “It makes me even more proud to be from Southampton and how we are standing united to help the people in London.”

Ian Thomas, who owns Romsey Self Storage, has teamed up with two removals companies who will distribute any donations and has set aside two large storage units to collect clothing, furniture or toys.

Eastleigh-based Corporate Express Couriers are also acting as a delivery service for aid to the fire victims.

Manager Madeline Symons said: “We have four vans that we can use for Southampton and are keen for our drivers to be able to drive up free of charge, anything we can do, we can do.”

Councillor Keith Morell, leader of the Putting People First group on Southampton City Council, congratulated everyone for uniting to help a good cause.

He said: “It’s a marvellous demonstration of community solidarity and it’s incredible that so many people that have little themselves are always something to give.”

In London, The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea said there was a rest centre at Harrow Centre, Freston Road, while nearby St Clements Church have received hundreds of donations clothes, food and water for those affected – many of whom escaped the building in their night clothes.

Volunteers also stood on the edge of the exclusion zone with trays of sandwiches, which were offered to police as they walked past.

Football clubs QPR and Fulham also offered to help those left homeless by the blaze.

A number of crowdfunding pages have been set up with one raising more than £20,000 within hours of the news of the fire

The appeal, on the JustGiving website, was set up by an account in the name of teacher

Anybody concerned for loved ones in the blaze should contact the Met Police casualty bureau on 0800 0961 233.