Community praised after fire appeal for neighbours

A community group has thanked neighbours for helping after a fire damaged four homes.

The roofs of the homes on Vale View in Stockingford, Nuneaton, were severely damaged after flying embers from a garden fire set light to a plastic Christmas tree, which then spread to the houses, on 1 April.

Rosaviyah Razaq, who is the co-ordinator at Stockingford Community Centre, said she started the appeal after people in the community asked what they could do to help.

"It's been really an eye opener, so many donations came through," Ms Razaq said.

Hundreds of items were donated, from clothing to toiletries, to help families affected by the fire.

Local businesses also donated bottles of water for emergency service workers at the scene and the Asda supermarket in Nuneaton donated £500 of food, clothing and toiletries.

Ms Razaq paid tribute to the volunteers at the community centre who made hot drinks for emergency workers and helped organise the donations.

"They were absolutely amazing. Obviously the day that it happened they were here until gone 11pm, helping serve the service men and women," she said.

"Not only that, afterwards they were here sorting out the clothes, making sure the clothes were in order, with men's and women's sizes.

"The leftover items our local PSCO helped me deliver to the local charity shops, it was absolutely amazing and I couldn't thank them enough for what they do for the community."

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