Mother and daughters left homeless after blaze ravages their home

Alexa Lessing and her two daughters Shannon, 10, and Madison Sterdutti, eight, have been left homeless after a fire ravaged their Meadow Rise home in Crossgates while they were out. The girls' two pet hamsters also died in the fire.

They are staying with family members while they await emergency housing where they can stay until their home is cleared out and rebuilt.

They have praised people in the village who have donated clothes, money and board games to help.

The girls were staying with their aunt Gitte on Friday evening, but when nursery worker Alexa returned home at 9.30pm, she discovered the fire.

Alexa's sister Gitte said: "When she pulled up in the car, Alexa was surprised a light she usually leaves on was off, and she could smell burning.

"As Alexa got to the front door she could see smoke coming out of the letter box and realised the fire wasn't a neighbour burning something but it was within her home.

"She called 999 and they told her to get away from the house, so she went to neighbours and from there she rang me."

The fire is believed to have started in the rear bedroom of the house as a result of a faulty multi-electric socket but the smoke spread through the whole house, leaving nothing salvageable.

"They literally had the clothes on their backs and nothing else," Gitte added.

Within hours Alexa's family and friends had launched an appeal for help on social media and they have been inundated with donations of clothes and other goods, cash donations and offers of help.

"People have been amazing," said Gitte. "I appealed for clothes and help for the first few days and Sian Steele, the mother of one of the children at Alexa's nursery set up a crowd-funding page which has already raised about £800.

Alexa has already had lots of clothes and shoes donated for her and the children and people have given her vouchers for Tesco and a teacher at the school gave her an envelope containing £60.

"People have been sending messages saying they cannot give anything but they can offer their time to help clear out Alexa's house, or to help paint and decorate when its ready," said Gitte.

G and A Jones Newsagents has offered to be a collection point for donations and they have also been inundated.

Owner Kevin Martin said: "It has been phenomenal."People have been coming in with money, one lady came from Builth Wells brought in some clothes and money for the two daughters, Andy Davies the picture framer downstairs knew the girls go to the Brownies which his partner runs and he has donated brownies uniforms for them.

"We have given some board games to give the children something to occupy them and people have given boxes of chocolates."

Gitte said: "We can't believe the reaction of the community. "

Alexa is overwhelmed by it all and she can't believe how kind people have been, but she is very independent and finds it difficult."

A spokesman for Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue said: "Crews from Llandrindod Wells and Rhayader were called to a fire at a property in Crossgates, Llandrindod Wells at 9.16pm on Friday, February 3.

"The fire was contained to the rear bedroom of the property and firefighters extinguished the fire using four breathing apparatus, two hose reel jets and two thermal imaging cameras.

"Unfortunately, two pet hamsters died in the incident. The fire service left at 10:05pm. The incident is being investigated by the fire service."

Anyone who would like to help the family to rebuild their lives after the fire can drop off donations at G and A Jones Newsagents in Llandrindod Wells.