SOUTHEND United has raised £11,616 for the victims of the Grenfell tower tragedy.

The football club launched a fundraising campaign in June following the west London tower block blaze in which 71 people perished.

Within days of the fire the club pledged £10 from every season ticket and £1 from every home league match ticket sold until the end of September.

On Saturday the club handed over a cheque towards the London Fire Relief Fund, which is helping families and victims of the blaze.

The club welcomed representatives from the British Red Cross, along with Sir David Amess, Conservative MP for Southend West, to Roots Hall for a presentation of a cheque.

The essential funds raised will go towards helping the families rebuild their lives.

Emma Spragg, British Red Cross Director of Crisis Response for London, said: “We are immensely grateful for the generosity of Southend United, its supporters and all those who have given to our London Fire Relief Fund. The human trauma arising from the Grenfell Tower fire will change the lives of those affected forever, these funds will some way in helping families cope with their loss.”

Sir David said: “As the chairman of the All Part Fire Safety and Rescue Group, I would like to thank Southend United and their supporters for their generosity in giving money to help support the victims of the Grenfell Tower disaster to rebuild their lives.

“None of us will forget the horrific scenes of the towering inferno which Grenfell became on June 14. “

Sir David added: “This was the fire that was never supposed to happen. As we approach Christmas, your generosity will go some way to easing the pain and suffering of those families who have lost so much.”

Earlier this month Sir David took part in a Westminster Hall debate entitled “Residential Premises: Product Safety and Fire Risk”.

During the debate the MP called for housing associations and local authorities to provide free mandatory electrical safety checks for appliances.

Chancellor Philip Hammond announced funding for councils to ensure tower block fire safety is prioritised.