AN elderly couple whose house was destroyed in a fire said they have been overwhelmed by the kindness of villagers who have donated more than £2,700 to help them.

Marie and Allan Hollis, both 87, saw their home of 13 years in Bears Meadow Lane, Kilve, gutted by the blaze which took place on the morning of July 14.

Kilve Stores have organised a fund where well-wishers can make donations and have so far raised £2,700 to help the couple.

Mr Hollis said:"We have been overwhelmed by the kindness and support of the villagers, and I especially want to thank Robbie Rutt who has organised all of this.

"We have lost all our records and have had a lot to deal with in terms of insurance and Robbie has been able to bring in his business experience to help us."

Since the fire, the cause of which is still unknown, the couple have been living at the Westerley Care Home in King Edward Road in Minehead.

"It has been excellent here, we have been looked after in every way and given a very good room while we recuperate," Mr Hollis said.

Somerset County Gazette:

Picture by Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue

Mrs Hollis described her shock at the speed the fire took hold on the day.

"I was out in the garden attending to the laundry with the cleaner Steph when I noticed slates falling from the roof and there was a popping noise," she said.

Steph ran outside to get Allan who was in the sitting room reading before phoning the emergency services.

"The fire took hold ever so quickly and less than half an hour later the building was destroyed," Mrs Hollis said.

Mr Hollis explained that it was a windy day and the timber frame of the house made it more vulnerable to fire.

"There was a column of smoke billowing over the village and a strong smell of burning," he said.

When Mr Hollis informed the fire service there were three cylinders of oxygen inside the home they evacuated neighbouring houses and called in a helicopter to try and locate the cylinder using a special thermal imaging camera.

The Hollis's lost their family photographs, Marie's embroidery work and all of Allan's wood carvings including a four-poster bed with carved Austrian figures on the top that took two years to make.

Donations are still being accepted at Kilve Stores, which is on the main A39 through the village.