Shropshire family grateful to community after house fire
A family has described a community's reaction as "amazing" after their home and children's Christmas presents were destroyed by fire.
Joanne Weaver and her family were left crushed after the blaze broke out at their home in Old Mill Avenue in Morda, near Oswestry, destroying the ground floor and causing substantial smoke damage upstairs.
But within hours of the fire taking hold on Sunday, people responded to appeals on Facebook and offered to donate clothes and toys for the children.
Mrs Weaver, who lives at the house with her husband Steve and two boys Morgan, seven, and Charlie, one, praised everyone who had responded during their hour of need.
Firefighters spent six hours battling the fire, which broke out in a kitchen at 11am, and Mrs Weaver also thanked officers who helped put the blaze out.
She said: "We are absolutely devastated but we are so appreciative for the support we have received through people donating on Facebook and everything. It has been amazing and I am just so thankful that I still have my family at the end of it."
Mrs Weaver said all of the family's Christmas presents had been destroyed by the fire, a situation which has led friends and one of the firefighters to start an appeal for toys or clothes.
She said: "All of our Christmas presents are gone. They were either smashed or melted or submerged in water.
"We have just managed to salvage the eldest boy's favourite teddy, which is severely smoke-damaged. We have had to tell him it has gone to teddy hospital. We are trying to keep it light-hearted for him but he saw the house and I think he's in shock."
An appeal has been launched by Oswestry firefighter Kevin Williams and his wife Lita.
Mr Williams said: "We attended the fire at the property and it was pretty much destroyed and it was so heartbreaking seeing all the children's clothes and presents, so I got home and we put something on Facebook to see if people wanted to help."
Mr Williams praised the community reaction to the appeal.
He said: "It is just great the way a community comes together to help, it is fantastic."
Anyone who wishes to donate clothes and toys for the boys in sizes 2/3 years and 9/10 years can do so at Oswestry Fire Station between 7pm and 8pm on Tuesday and Thursday.
Adrian Bowen, crew manager at Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, said they believed the fire had been caused by an electrical appliance but were still investigating.
