Sixteen cats confirmed dead after fire in Blackpool feline sanctuary

Just one surviving cat was rescued by firefighters from the blaze that gutted the ground floor of the Rainbow Bridge Cat Sanctuary on Grosvenor Street on Friday afternoon.

Fire services from Forest Gate, South Shore, Bispham, Fleetwood and St Annes were called at around 3.20pm and arrived to find the building well alight.

Firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus and hose reels battled for five and a half hours to bring the incident under control.

It was initially believed that 'up to 30' cats had perished. The sole surviving feline was given oxygen by firefighters at the scene, and was later taken to a vet for treatment.

The Rainbow Bridge Cat Sanctuary, run by Father Anthony Gillick and Helen Steviel, is believed to have cared for more than 220 cats over a 20 year period. The sanctuary was known for taking in sick and elderly cats that could not be rehomed elsewhere.