Staff have visited the scene of a Perth hotel fire that left three people and a dog dead.
The New County Hotel went up in flames early on Monday.
The hotel has been cordoned off since the blaze as a major investigation takes place.
It has since emerged that the owner of the hotel, Rashid Hussain, had been ordered to make a series of fire safety improvements just weeks before the incident.
On Thursday afternoon, six members of the hotel’s staff visited the building to reflect on the tragedy.
They say Monday’s events have left them traumatised and some are seeking counselling.
One worker was in the hotel at the time with the rest staying elsewhere.
The staff said a prayer and laid flowers and a bone for the dog during a small service at the scene.
Part of the prayer told those affected “we are all thinking of them and their families”.
They also listened to Donna Taggart’s song Jealous of the Angels while holding a minute’s silence.
Employee Karen Kennedy brought along her five-year-old Chihuahua called Willow, to represent the dog who perished.
The workers say their jobs at the hotel are now uncertain and they do not know what is going to happen next.
A statement provided to The Courier on behalf of the staff said: “Everyone who works at the hotel is traumatised by what happened.
Staff ‘completely traumatised’ by hotel fire
“We don’t want it to come across like we don’t care because we do and all work really hard.
“We’re here as a team to show and pay our respects to the victims and survivors that have been through trauma.
“The fire has affected the families of those who died, the guests but also the staff.
“We’ve been talking and think we are going to seek counselling. We’re all completely traumatised by what has happened and what we saw.
“As a team, we’re are all going to be united for years after this.”
Craig Burnett, owner of The Bees Flower Shop round the corner from the hotel, joined the staff in paying tribute at the scene.
He told The Courier: “The fire has affected the whole community.
“The mood locally has been really sombre. It’s not been a good start to the year.
“All the businesses are quite tight knit here. We’re all so shocked by what’s happened.
“I don’t want people thinking and pointing fingers at the staff. They’re fantastic and work really hard.”
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