Adele and Stormzy stand side by side with Londoners at Grenfell Tower singing Lean on Me a year on from tragedy

Adele and Stormzy stood side-by-side with Londoners at the base of Grenfell Tower as they sang a moving rendition of Lean on Me one year on from the disaster that killed 72 people.

Thousands of people gathered at the block in west London on Thursday to pay their respects, many dressed in green, the colour that has come to symbolise last year’s terrible events.

Both stars, who were also joined by Marcus Mumford, have been outspoken about the lack of support given to Grenfell victims in the wake of the horrifying blaze.

Adele said during a concert at Wembley Stadium shortly after the tragedy: “They’re not receiving the things we think they are. It’s a f****** mess. No information is getting through, people feel helpless.

“No one knows what they’re doing down there, it’s chaos.”

Nicholas Burton, a former 19th floor resident whose wife, Maria del Pilar Burton, died in January, described them as "normal people with big hearts".

He said: “I went into the sports centre and I hear 'Hi Nick' and it's Adele calling me over, who introduced me to her new husband and then Marcus comes over and we had a hug, then Stormzy comes over, they have all been unbelievable.

"I was thanking them for all they've done behind the scenes that no-one knows about.

"They may travel the world and are known to millions but down on the ground they are normal people with big hearts wanting to give, this is their community as well, they feel part of it."

Victims of the Grenfell Tower fire

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Lily Allen, also a vocal supporter of the victims, tweeted a tribute despite saying in the same tweet that she did want to “sound trite”.

She wrote: “I can’t think of anything to say about Grenfell that doesn’t sound trite.

“So I’ll just say this, never forget, never stop searching for the truth, never give up on justice.”

Earlier today, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan was among those to lay a wreath at the fence still separating the tower's hollowed skeleton from the rest of London.

Parallel commemorations have taken place near the tower block, including an 11am service of remembrance at St Helen's Church.

Among those in attendance was Tottenham MP David Lammy, who was friends with victim Khadija Saye.

A minute of silence for the victims of the Grenfell Tower

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He said: "I don't think a year ago we could have envisaged how little support the community would be given by the local authority and the Government, and that's in their own words.

"That has not been the best of our country.

"We need a redoubling of effort in the year ahead, it needs to be much, much better, we need to get those people housed, and we need to continue to support those in the north Kensington area that are deeply traumatised."

A silent march will take place this evening around the neighbourhood, attended by Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Shortly before midday, 72 seconds of silence fell over north Kensington which led a minute's commemoration observed across the country, including at Government buildings, the Palace of Westminster and by the Queen and the Duchess of Sussex in Chester.

Just after 2pm grieving families from a separate church service led a hushed crowd along Silchester Road to the tower.

Many held huge green hearts emblazoned with words such as "humanity", "love", "unity" and "grace".

An anguished mourner collapsed to the floor weeping as the march reached the base of the site.

Earlier, the day's first service saw a community mosaic unveiled and a gospel choir perform songs including Bridge Over Troubled Water.

The names of all the dead, including stillborn baby Logan Gomes and Mrs Burton, were read out by different members of the community.

After each finished their turn, they said: "Forever in our hearts."

Silence then fell over the gathered crowd, all still except for the rustle of leaves in the trees.

As the mourners stood quietly, a chill wind passed through the area, stark in contrast to the sweltering conditions on the day of the fire.

By the time all the wreaths had been laid, however, the sun had broken overhead, bathing the streets in warm light.

Members of the public were able to watch the ceremony from a giant screen erected outside nearby Kensington Aldridge Academy.

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