THE COMMUNITY has rallied round to support a Blue Anchor family who tragically lost their home in a fire last week.

The Shackleford family lost their home and almost all their possessions after high winds spread a shed fire to the property at 6am on Wednesday, November 9.

However family friend Jophie Bruford has stepped in to help Les and Lynne Shackleford and their two children by setting up a Facebook and Justgiving page where people can donate money and essential items and the family has been taken aback by the support they have received.

Mr Shackleford said: "Lynne and I are completely and utterly overwhelmed with the support and generosity of everyone, family, friends and even complete strangers.

"Lynne was awoken by the fire alarms and in turn woke me, before we could even make it down the stairs the house was filled with thick black smoke, we couldn't breath or see where we were going, I was first out of the house with Cheyanne followed by what seemed to be an eternity by Lynne and Kiana."

After spending time with Minehead Fire Station watch manager Chris Jones, Mr Shackleford said he wanted to emphasise how the smoke alarm saved their lives.

"While there was significant fire damage to the property, it would have been the smoke that would have killed us," Mr Shackleford said.

"As far as I am aware no flames reached our bedroom however the TV which was on a wall mount melted, the double glazed windows cracked and the plaster on the walls blistered."

"I have been guilty of taking the batteries out of fire alarms in the past because they drove me nuts. Please don't do that and if you have fire alarms installed then get it sorted, not in a couple of days time or next week but now."

Mr Shackleford said he was grateful to all the emergency services for their help and support.

The fundraising page has raised £1,362 so far and Jo Bruford said she was amazed at how generous people had been.

"I had received 164 messages within 24 hours with people offering everything from three-piece suites, clothes, beds, you name it. It really has been phenomenal," she said.

"Special thanks go to Toyah Marchant from Coaster Coffee for allowing us to use her shop as a donation point, as well as Lesley Bide for letting us use her garage to store furniture and of course Cara and Marcus at the Blue Anchor Hotel for letting us use the function room to store everything."

For more information on donating search Help a Family in Need on Facebook.