Scientologists have been branded 'vultures' who are 'trying to capitalise on people's heartbreak' after setting up an enormous tent at the scene of the Grenfell Tower tragedy.

Members of the controversial religion were seen offering massages and handing out promotional leaflets from the bright yellow structure just days after the horror blaze.

They were first outside the sports centre on Friday but came back on Sunday with their huge tents and flags which read 'communication' and 'conflicts'.

The tent was pitched just metres away from the street where hundreds of locals are handing out donations to those who have been left homeless by the inferno which has so far claimed 78 lives.

The church told MailOnline: 'From 99% of the responses we had, we know it was worthwhile.'

The enormous bright yellow tent, pictured, was set up near the Grenfell Tower site

Members of the controversial religion were seen offering massages and handing out promotional leaflets from the structure

The death toll from the Grenfell Tower fire rose to 79 today as police confirmed five of those who died in the blaze have been formally identified

Residents are alleged to have told the Scientologists to 'take their tent and leave' after being offered massages to help them 'heal'.

A journalist at the scene said: 'Everyone who's approached them has told them to f*** off.'

The Church of Scientology was founded in the 1950s by science fiction writer L Ron Hubbard and counts Tom Cruise as well as John Travelota among its celebrity followers.

It believes the spirit can alleviate 'injury, trauma or discomfort' by 'putting the spirit in communication with the body'.

Former Scientologists such as actress Leah Remini and writer Paul Haggis have claimed church leaders encourage members to shun apostates and allegedly label those who leave as 'suppressive persons'.

Twitter users have also reacted with fury after an image of the tents was posted online.

Twitter users reacted with fury after hearing about the tent, with one saying: 'I hope they were run out of the borough'

Another user added: 'The sheer size would give me pause. Almost frightening'

Carolyn Malsher questioned why the space where the Scientologists set up their tent was not 'better utilised'

Germaine Arnold wrote: 'Can't believe these Scientology goons are recruiting next to Grenfell Tower. Vultures.'

Another commenter added: 'Lots of vulnerable shell shocked people there, I'm not surprised they've turned up.'

Tony Sloane said: 'Cynicism of the highest level. Know where I would like to stick their banners.'

The Church of Scientology said in a statement to MailOnline: 'We have had a team of our Volunteer Ministers on the ground near the Grenfell Tower site since Wednesday morning.

'We have worked with hundreds of other people in many ways, doing whatever was needed to somehow lend a hand to help the survivors and those who lost loved ones.

'We have sorted mounds of donated clothes, toys and boxed them up, and then transported several tons of such boxes to storage facilities for distribution later, when the survivors and displaced have homes to live in.

Recovery workers are putting scaffolding and supports into flats on the upper floors of the tower to make it more stable

Recovery workers are continuing to work through the 24-storey tower block. The police chief leading the investigation has said conditions in the tower 'verge on indescribable'

'We have given out gallons upon gallons of water. We have sourced hundreds of face masks and have given them to local residents and volunteers working outside and breathing in the toxic fumes.

'We have worked alongside, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindus, Christians, and people of no religion. The community spirit - the silver lining of a very dark cloud - has brought hope in these otherwise sad and sickening days. We have made hundreds of friends.

'Yesterday, we set up a tent, as a place for people to come to, to seek directions, advice, to talk and be heard or simply to sit and reflect. From 99% of the responses we had, we know it was worthwhile.

'It is easy to stand by and criticise. Our friends are those who were, and still are, in there pitching and trying to make a positive difference.'

An exercise bike stands among the rubble and charred remains of household items in one of the block's many flats

Although the Scientologists were criticised by some local residents, others said the volunteers were 'smiley' and 'friendly'.

A shop worker from the Payless Food Convenience Store told MailOnline: 'They were here outside my shop on Friday wearing yellow t-shirts and talking to people, there were about five or so.'

Volunteer Manninder Singh, 27, said: 'There were about 15 Scientologists walking around and talking to people.

'They were handing out food and just being really friendly, they were so smiley.

'I just saw a lot of love being shared and positive vibes. We were all really impressed, they were all smiling and chatting to people.

'They weren't discussing religion at all or trying to indoctrinate anyone.

'That would have been frowned upon by the Sikhs, Muslims and Christians round here. We don't do that.'

Police said today the death toll from the Grenfell Tower tragedy had risen to 79 as the nation stopped to remember those killed in the fire.

Five people have been formally identified after a blaze tore through the residential block last Wednesday in west London, Metropolitan Police Commander Stuart Cundy said on Monday.

The rest are missing presumed dead and Mr Cundy said 'the awful reality is that we may not be able to identify all those that died' inside what is now a blackened and charred shell.

There were emotional scenes at the site in north Kensington at 11am as firefighters halted work to join residents for a minute's silence held to remember those who lost their lives and all others affected by the blaze.

The silence was also observed at Government buildings across the country.

A minute's silence was held around the country today to remember those killed in last week's Grenfell Tower blaze

Firefighters at the scene, who have had to pick through the tower block during the investigation, shed tears as silence fell

The police chief leading the investigation into the fire said nothing could prepare even long-serving emergency service personnel for what they were confronted with inside the tower

Firemen support each other as they gathered together in the shadow of the building where 79 people are now confirmed to have died

Mr Cundy said the death toll may still change, but not as significantly as it has in recent days.

He fought back tears as he told reporters at New Scotland Yard about the scene inside the 24-storey tower.

Footage from inside the gutted building has been released, showing the extent of the damage caused by the blaze.

He said it had been 'incredibly emotional working in there', adding: 'On Saturday I went in myself and went to the top floor.

'And it is incredibly hard to describe the devastation in some parts of that building.'

These are the people who lived in the tower and are still missing following the blaze on Wednesday

Speaking later outside Scotland Yard, Mr Cundy added: 'I have investigated major crime for most of my service and I have seen some terrible things. But I don't think anything prepared me for what I was going to see when I was in there.

'It's hard to describe my feelings, because I cannot imagine, and I would not want to put myself in the position of those families who have lost their loved ones.

'But being with colleagues from the London Fire Brigade when I was in there, colleagues from the London Ambulance Service and other police officers, I think it's fair to say it is incredibly emotional working in there.

'But we will do it with our utmost professionalism and we will do everything we can as quickly as we can to locate everybody who is in there.'

Five people who had been reported missing after the disaster have been found safe and well, he added.

Amid anger in the wake of the disaster, which was described by London Mayor Sadiq Khan as a 'preventable accident', the Government announced those left homeless will be given at least £5,500 from an emergency fund.

Residents will be given £500 in cash followed by a bank payment for the rest from Monday and the money will come from the £5 million fund announced by Theresa May on Friday.

Mr Cundy said police had received some 70 pictures and videos of the fire from the public and urged them to send more as officers investigate the blaze.

He would not be drawn on the specifics of the criminal investigation of the fire, including whether anyone had been arrested or raids carried out.

He said that a team of some 250 investigators were now working on the case, with a primary aim being to identify victims and inform their loved ones as soon as possible.