A VICTIM of the West Street fire is counting the cost of having his home destroyed.

Charles Townsend’s Georgian terraced house was one of five completely gutted by a blaze in December last year.

He has estimated it will cost £600,000 to sort out his home. Construction work to the listed building could cost up to £400,000, clearance would cost £100,000 with the rest covering items destroyed.

Families were left homeless with only the clothes on their backs with flames ravaged the West Street homes.

After months of sifting through the wreckage left behind, Rose Builders, of Manningtree, were able to reunite some items to the families including heirlooms and treasured collectables.

Mr Townsend was reunited with his father’s military cross medal and negatives of photographs taken of his family in the 1800s.