A remembrance service to commemorate 44 years since the Summerland fire which killed 50 people has been held by Douglas Council.

The service was held at the Summerland Fire Memorial in Kaye Memorial Gardens on King Edward Road to remember all those who died and were affected by the 1973 disaster.

Douglas mayor Debbie Pitts laid a wreath on behalf of the council at the memorial and a minute’s silence was held followed by the Ellan Vannin Pipes and Drums playing.

The mayor addressed an emotional gathering, which included Summerland survivor Ruth McQuillan-Wilson, saying: ’The families of those who died, those who were injured, those who fought the fire, the medical people who treated the injured and the dying, and even those people who witnessed the event but could do nothing about it all still bear the scars of that awful evening.’

The Summerland Fire Memorial was erected in 2013, the 40th anniversary of the disaster.

Tina Brennen, who campaigned for the memorial, compared the Summerland fire to the recent Grenfell Tower disaster in London saying: ’Trust, justice, accountability. This was never given to the families of the victims of the Summerland fire. No-one answered for those 50 deaths.

’Will the families of those killed in Grenfell Tower get the answers they need from their elected representatives?’