A MOTHER has thanked the people of Worcester who rallied round to help after her family's possessions were destroyed in a house fire.

Jayne Wallis said she had been moved to tears by the kindness of family, friends and strangers who donated clothes, furniture, food, toys and toiletries following last week's fire at her home in Windermere Drive, Warndon.

"I'm gobsmacked," said the 41-year-old.

"People have been absolutely fantastic.

"Without this we would have nothing at all."

Miss Wallis said she and her children - Mckenzi, aged one; Jordan, four, who suffers from autism; Conni, seven; Tammi, nine and Reece, 10 - had been overwhelmed by the quantity and quality of donations.

"The stuff I've had is absolutely fantastic," she said. "I've been given stuff with tags on.

"I've had a bag with a big massive sign on it saying I hope this makes you smile' in child's handwriting with a scooter and bike inside."

She said St Joseph's Catholic Primary School in Warndon, where Conni, Tammi and Reece are pupils, had been incredibly supportive, giving notes to parents asking if they had unwanted items to donate - with an overwhelming response.

Because Miss Wallis does not know the names of many who have helped her, she has hung a sheet outside her home thanking them for their kindness.

"It's the only thing I can think of to say thank you," she said.

"I am very, very grateful, I really am."

The family have been told they can move into a four-bedroom maisonette in Warndon while their home, which is owned by Worcester Community Housing, is being repaired, but not for about two weeks. Meanwhile they are living in cramped conditions with Miss Wallis' elder daughter, 19-year-old Toni, in a two-bedroom flat in Warndon.

Fire investigators believe the blaze started because of an electrical fault in the television set.

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