The fire at The Cube student accommodation block quickly gutted the top floor of the six-storey building which housed 221 students.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said: “Following the fire our investigation will consider the materials used within the external wall construction and what if any role these materials played in the development and spread of fire.

“This investigation will be complex and take some time.”

GMFRS inspected The Cube in 2017 following the Grenfell fire when it was established that the building did not have ACM cladding.

Phase 1 one of the scheme is classified as a high rise building but Phase 2 – where the fire hit – is under 18 metres and not classified as a high rise building under post-Grenfell rules.

GMFRS added: “We subsequently requested the fire risk assessment be reviewed and the materials used in the external wall system identified and assessed.

“This assessment was shared with GMFRS and in 2018, subsequent work was undertaken to both buildings by the building owners.

“No further information about the external wall system will be released at this stage.”

Building manager Valeo Urban Student Life said: “Valeo USL is actively assisting the emergency services with their investigations into the blaze and is committed to help with any investigations and looks forward to understanding the outcome of those investigations and any lessons that can be learnt.

“Valeo USL was not responsible for the construction of or subsequent amendments to the construction of the Cube buildings.”