Sikh community's turmoil at fire

A Sikh community in Manchester has been left devastated by a blaze that ripped through its temple.

The fire, which is still being dampened down by firefighters, damaged their place of worship in Cheetham Hill.

Amardeep Singh uses the temple everyday with his family. He said: "We have been greatly distressed by the fire, as we have not been allowed in since.

"Fortunately none of the Sikh scriptures were damaged." The cause of the fire, last Wednesday, is not known.

'Very upsetting'

More than 70 firefighters tackled the blaze when it was at its peak. Crews are monitoring the remain of the fire to check it has totally been extinguished.

A Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman confirmed that the investigation had not yet started into the cause of the blaze.

Mr Singh said: "When we have special festivals, up to 400 people come and use the temple and it is used by families across the area on a daily basis.

"We spend a lot of our time here, so we have had to use a nearby temple or even go other people's homes so we can pray together.

"It has been very upsetting but we hope to be back in there in the next week or so."