Today marks a year since families, couples and elderly residents were forced out of their homes after a devastating fire tore through an apartment block.

The Holborough Lakes fire emptied 22 apartments on the morning of Saturday, September 16, 2017.

A year on and it seems residents could be left in temporary accommodation until next summer.

Gary Smitherman, whose home was one of those destroyed, was in Turkey with his wife Lisa when he heard what had happened.

The petrol tanker driver said: “We tried to get a flight back the same day but the next available one was the flight home we’d already booked on the Monday.

“It was absolutely awful not being there, not knowing how much damage there’d been.

“It’s really affected us. We don’t think we can go abroad again.

“We go to the same place with our friends every year. Right now, they’re over in Turkey and we’re here.”

Having spent their first night back in the country at a friend’s house, the couple returned home to Pollyfield Close on Tuesday, three days after the blaze.

Mr Smitherman said: “It was awful, to look up at your home in total devastation is something I’ll never forget.

“It’s been a tough year. At first, to drive on the estate every day not seeing anything happen was quite frustrating. Eventually they put the covers over it.”

Demolition started six months ago, finishing in July, while firefighters say the cause of the fire will never be known.

Construction to replace the apartment block starts this month, though developer Berkeley Group has offered no timeline for completion.

However, Mr Smitherman, who found a new home on the estate in Manley Boulevard, believes he could return to his flat by next summer.

He said: “We were told the construction company had ordered a timber frame for the building four weeks ago and it takes 10 weeks to arrive.

“From what we’ve heard it could be ready by the end of May or June next year.”

A spokesman from Berkeley Homes said: “We are working to get the homes rebuilt as quickly as possible.

“We are in regular contact with residents and are keeping them fully up to date with developments.”