'Under a third' of funds raised reaches those hit by Grenfell Tower fire

Less than a third of the money raised for those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire has reached their pockets, new data shows.

Almost half of the £19,018,782 gathered by fundraisers has been sent to distributing organisations, the Charity Commission said.

Of this, £5,822,500 has reached survivors, bereaved families and those displaced from their homes more than two months after the devastating blaze, which killed at least 80 people.

The figure is up from £2.8 million a week ago, showing a huge acceleration in the distribution of funds.

David Holdsworth, registrar of charities in England and Wales, said: "We are pleased that a further £3 million has reached survivors and those affected by this terrible tragedy in the last week, and that further funds will be distributed in the coming days.

"Some challenges still remain but it is important that the charities continue to work with the community and that the remaining funds are made available to meet their short, medium and longer term needs."

Next-of-kin of those missing or dead, people who required hospital treatment and every household of Grenfell Tower and Grenfell Walk are some of those entitled to set payments.

The biggest sums sent to be distributed are from the Evening Standard Dispossessed Fund (£3,910,000), and the Kensington and Chelsea Foundation (£2,520,000).

Only two smaller donors - Goldsmiths Company and Turn2us - have made the entirety of their raised cash available to distributors.