Stormzy’s emotional rap verse for Simon Cowell’s Grenfell Tower charity single has been praised as the most “powerful” part of the song after it was aired for the first time.

The grime star opens the track with the lyrics: “I don’t know where to begin so I’ll start by saying I refuse to forget you/I refuse to be silenced/I refuse to neglect you/That’s for every last soul up in Grenfell/Even though I’ve never even met you.”

He ends the verse: “With my friends on the ground trying to see up there/I just hope that you’re resting and free up there.”

The London-based musician joined more than 50 artists, including Rita Ora, Robbie Williams, Liam Payne and Jessie J for the recording of Simon and Garfunkel’s Bridge Over Troubled Water, released on Wednesday.

As the song was debuted across BBC radio channels, fans shared their thoughts…

Swathes of listeners said the segment had left them in tears, even affecting people who would not describe themselves as Stormzy fans.

For those who missed the track’s first plays, it will be broadcast before ITV’s evening episode of Coronation Street.

Other artists who lent their names, and their voices, to the song include Bastille, Brian May, Ella Eyre, James Blunt, Louis Tomlinson, Nile Rodgers, X Factor winner Matt Terry and recent Britain’s Got Talent winner Tokio Myers.

Stars came together to take part in a weekend of recording at west London’s Sarm Studios, half a mile away from Grenfell Tower.

Proceeds from sales of the song and extra donations will go to Artists For Grenfell, set up to support the survivors of the tower block fire that killed at least 79 people last week.

Singer Liam tweeted: “My thoughts go out to all of those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. Please donate what you can”, while Tomlinson posted: “Please give all you can to help!”

Also featuring on the track, singer Leona Lewis shared a link to the online fundraiser page and wrote: “Please support those affected by the Grenfell tragedy by donating here.”

Original Bridge Over Troubled Water singer/songwriter Paul Simon posted: “Artists For Grenfell recorded Bridge Over Troubled Water for West London disaster victims artistsforgrenfell.com.”