Potteries

In 1928, May Rindge began building a great family mansion, Laudamus Hill, with lavish appointments like carved mahogany doors and tile from her own Malibu Potteries.

The Royal Stafford brand was established in 1845 and the firm described itself as one of the handful of potteries with all production taking place in England.

London Northwestern Railway said the fire had led to a lack of trains to cover the Potteries - Crewe to Stafford via Stoke-on-Trent - and replacement services would be also put in place.

Burslem is the oldest of the six towns making up Stoke-on-Trent and is often known as the mother town of the Staffordshire Potteries, having created ceramics for more than 300 years.

Ms Benson, who has visited the UK but never Staffordshire, added: "People shared a lot of stories about working in The Potteries and about relatives that worked there then moved to Canada."