NEARLY 400 individuals and organisations will be core participants in the Grenfell Tower inquiry after an “unprecedented” number of applications, the inquiry announced yesterday.

This could allow them the right to provide opening statements, suggest lines of questioning, or highlight evidence relating to the fire on June 14 that tore through the residential council-owned block, which killed at least 80 people and left hundreds homeless.

A total of 393 applications were granted, including from 25 organisations and professional bodies, although 111 were refused and 41 are still under consideration.