Residents evacuated after a huge mill blaze won't be able to return home until early next week.
Council chiefs have provided an update after the fire ripped through Grade II-listed Oxford Mills in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside on Tuesday.
Around 50 residents on Gibson Terrace, facing the mills off Stockport Road, were evacuated as the fire took hold and the burning buildings began collapsing.
Tameside council said 27 of them were staying with family or friends, with the rest being put up in temporary accommodation by a housing association.
Now the council has said it doesn't anticipate they will be able to go back home until 'early next week'.
All 50 were accompanied into their homes briefly on Friday morning to collect essential items.
The council said electricity needs to be reconnected before they can return permenently.
The former cotton mill - which sits on the banks of the Ashton Canal and dates back to 1845 - was built by the famous Mason family of Stalybridge.
Hugh Mason was MP for Ashton and a prosperous mill owner.
Fire crews spent days damping down at the scene of the blaze and the wreckage of the burnt out buildings were torn down.
Because the buildings remain structurally unsafe fire crews have been unable to go inside and so the investigation into what caused the blaze has not yet started, the M.E.N. has been told.
Around half a dozen businesses were hit in the blaze.
The council said it was in the process of contacting business owners to offer support and discuss alternative premises.
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Tameside council's executive leader, councillor Brenda Warrington, told the M.E.N.: "We are working closely with the mill owners and the fire service to ensure the swift and safe demolition of the buildings.
"Good progress was made to make the site adjacent to Gibson Terrace safe however some work still needs to take place to allow the homes to be reconnected to electricity.
"Evacuated residents from Gibson Terrace were accompanied back into their homes for a short time this morning so they could pick up any required personal belongings.
"However they won't be able move back home permanently until works are complete to reconnect the electricity, it is currently anticipated this will be early next week.
"In the meantime the 23 residents who are not staying with friends and family are being well supported in temporary accommodation provided by Jigsaw Homes."
"Our staff are continuing to contact businesses that were based in the affected building to offer support, such as help to find alternative premises.
"We're pleased with the great progress that’s been made so far, which is a testament to the effective and coordinated approach of all partners, and I would like to thank everyone involved for their efforts."
