Fury at beggar claiming to be Grenfell survivor

A beggar has been accused of fronting as a Grenfell Tower survivor in order to swindle money from kind-hearted strangers. Photo/Facebook

A beggar has been accused of fronting as a Grenfell Tower survivor in order to swindle money from kind-hearted strangers.

The man was spotted in the middle of busy Oxford Street, central London, with a sign saying "I'm legend victim which didn't get help after Grenfell Tower fire".

Doubting the legitimacy of his claims after all residents were promised £5,500 ($9,607), several passersby reportedly grilled him on specific details, including the postcode of the tower block, but he was unable to give a convincing answer, according to Daily Mail.

This reportedly caused fury among shoppers, who then began to form an angry circle around him.

Witness Ben Keenan, 36, told metro.co.uk: "A big crowd formed around him. One guy was saying 'I lost a cousin in the fire' and told him to take the sign down.

"If someone was a victim of that there is £5 million ($8.7 million) in a fund.

"There is no reason for him to be standing in Oxford Street with a piece of cardboard."

The man was then spoken to by police after several people reported him, but no further action was taken against him.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "On the afternoon of Monday 19th June in Oxford Street, local Westminster officers were made aware of a man with a placard referring to the Grenfell Tower fire.

"Police spoke to the individual and words of advice were given. No criminal offences were substantiated. The man was referred onto the relevant authorities."

Residents whose homes were destroyed in the Grenfell Tower fire are meant to have received a £5,500 ($9,607) Government down payment yesterday.

The announcement was made by Downing Street on Sunday evening, as the Prime Minister faced intense scrutiny over her government's reaction to the disaster.

Residents were supposed to be given £500 ($873) in cash over the weekend followed by a bank payment for the rest today.

Photo/Facebook

However, survivors are being let down by the botched response effort to the horrific blaze, those helping them have said.

Nearly a week on from the tower block blaze that killed at least 79 people, some of those displaced by the fire have been forced to sleep in their cars while others have been prevented from claiming promised cash.

Some of those who lost their flats in the blaze fear being declared "intentionally homeless" - meaning authorities no longer has a responsibility to house them - if they refuse to a move outside the area.

Anger over the relief effort was reported as the NHS said 14 people are still being treated for injuries from the fire, eight of whom remain "critical".

The official death toll stands at 79, but may still increase as fire crews work their way through the gutted 24-storey building.