THE MAIN contractor behind a partial refurbishment at Grenfell Tower also built a new £10million health centre in Swindon.

Construction firm Rydon delivered the NHS facility, a 10-year development involving a number of health groups.

The company has found itself in the spotlight after the tragedy at the high-rise in west London, which has claimed at least 30 lives.

The NHS centre in Fleming Way opened last week, serving more than 22,000 registered and 36,000 unregistered patients.

The firm and its sub-contractor, Harley Facades, which installed new cladding during the Grenfell Tower refurbishment in 2016, are facing speculation that the blaze spread rapidly after taking hold in the external facade.

However Rydon has welcomed a public inquiry into the disaster and defended its safety record.

It said the Grenfell Tower project "met all required building regulations - as well as fire regulation and health and safety standards - and handover took place when the completion notice was issued by Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) building control".

Chief executive Robert Bond said: "I will do all I can to assist in this investigation in order to establish what caused this tragedy.

"In light of the public inquiry, we cannot make any further comment at this time."

Harley Facades said in a statement: "At this time, we are not aware of any link between the fire and the exterior cladding."

Swindon Council tenants in the town's eight blocks of flats were yesterday reassured by the local authority that their homes are safe.

Michael Ash, head of housing and community safety, also used hand-delivered letters to announce a review of its "robust" safety arrangements when the full facts are known about the disaster.

Mr Ash said: "Following the tragic incident at Grenfell Tower in London I am providing information below to reassure you of the safety measures and procedures in place to keep you safe in your home.

"Your high-rise has an annual fire safety risk assessment, carried out by an accredited fire safety consultant with specialist advice from Dorset & Wiltshire Fire & Rescue Service Technical Fire Safety Department.

"Regular inspections are also carried out to ensure the suitability of the compartmentation within your building this includes checks on fire doors, emergency lighting and escape routes."

Mr Ash further detailed the safety and evacuation procedures with a review of the arrangements scheduled for after the inquiry.

He said: "When the full information is known about the tragic Grenfell Tower incident we will carry out a further review to our robust fire safety arrangements that we already have in place.

"There is some speculation about the external façade at Grenfell Tower being attributable to the rapid escalation of fire.

"You should be reassured that the external façade to all our residential high rise blocks of flats are of non-combustible materials and not a material used at Grenfell Tower, London."

Items for donation to those who lost their homes in the London fire can be dropped off at the ATBShop Skate Warehouse in Newcombe Drive before 6pm today.

*For free 'Safe & Well' visits call 0800 038 2323 or go to www.dwfire.org.uk and council residents can call 01793 463351 to speak to a housing officer.