A LARGE-SCALE investigation has been launched after one person died and 17 residents were evacuated following a blaze which gutted a block of flats in Stroud.

The fire struck on the top floor of the block in Mathews Way, Paganhill, just before 6pm on Wednesday. The blaze was so severe forensic scientists were unable to identify the sex of the body as The Citizen went to press last night.

Of those who fled the flats suffering from smoke inhalation, two were taken to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, with one being released yesterday afternoon and the other kept in as a precaution.

The residents have been placed in hotels around the county while special teams from the police and fire services investigate the cause of the blaze.

Arson has not been ruled out, although the cause remained unknown with the entire block staying sealed off yesterday evening.

The building is owned by Stroud District Council, which launched an emergency operation to help its 15 affected tenants.

The other two tenants who were also evacuated own their own flats.

An emergency centre was opened by the authority in Maypole Hall overnight on Wednesday offering hot drinks and sandwiches.

Sue Vigus, 50, was among those given a room at The Imperial, in Stroud.

She said: "I heard a noise, opened the door, and the communal hall and stairs were full of smoke. I have to say the council were brilliant to us."

Fellow tenant Chris Birchall, 63, saw a neighbour kick in the door of the blazing flat in a bid to help.

He said: "I had to retreat, it was hot smoke. It was one of those fires that comes out of the windows, burns its way up through the ceiling and tiles and then whoosh its got a draught."

Resident Ashley Davies said he too saw the blaze, and said: "There was fire coming out everywhere, it's been completely devastating."

Councillor Harry Carr, whose house backs onto the garden of the flats, said: "It's been very sad. It's not nice to see a place go up in flames like that."

A spokeswoman for Gloucestershire Constabulary said the identity and gender of the body found in the building were not yet known.

Chief Superintendent Gary Thompson said: "It is not yet known how the fire started. We are doing all we can to find the cause and a specialist is now assisting us.

Anyone who can help investigations into the fire is asked to call police on 0845 090 1234 quoting incident 389 of May 19.