BEREAVED Grenfell families have renewed demands for justice and condemned plans to tear down the tower on the eighth anniversary of the fire, calling it an attempt to push the tragedy “out of sight, out of mind.”

Hundreds walked in silence through west London on Saturday evening before hearing the names of the 72 dead and speeches by campaigners in the shadow of the tower.

The government confirmed in February that engineering advice is that the tower “is significantly damaged” and will get worse with time. Its demolition could start as early as September and is expected to last two years.

Grenfell United vice-chairman Karim Mussilhy, who lost his uncle in the fire, told the crowd: “Eight years have passed, eight years since the fire — lit by negligence, greed and institutional failure — tore through our homes, our families and our hearts. And still no justice has come. The truth is: there’s almost nothing new to say because nothing has changed.

“As we stand here eight years on, the only decision this government has made is to tear down the tower — our home.

“The tower has stood not just as a reminder of what happened but of what must change: a symbol and a truth in the face of denial, of dignity in the face of power, of our resistance, of our 72 loved ones who can’t fight for their own justice.

“And now they want it gone: out of sight, out of mind — a clear skyline and a forgotten scandal.”

About a dozen firefighters stood to attention outside Ladbroke Grove station with their helmets at their feet to pay their respects.

Crowds held placards reading “this much evidence still no charges” and chanted for justice.

The Grenfell Tower Memorial Commission has been consulting on plans for a permanent memorial in the area.

A public inquiry published last September concluded that the 72 deaths from the fire were avoidable. The report uncovered “systematic dishonesty” by firms that made and sold the cladding and insulation and revealed “deliberate and sustained” efforts to manipulate fire safety tests.

Cladding firm Arconic and insulation firms Kingspan and Celotex were among the firms criticised in the report. So far there have been no arrests made in connection with the fire.

Police and prosecutors have indicated that final decisions on potential criminal charges will be expected by the end of next year.

A documentary on the tragedy, Grenfell: Uncovered, will air on Netflix on Friday.