A YOUNG family who lost everything in a fierce blaze have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the community.

Mum-of-two Steph Littler, aged 23, carried her sons, Brandon, aged five, and Leighton, aged one, to safety after a fire ripped through the first floor bedroom of their home in Cross Street, Widnes.

She ran back to rescue her eight-week-old Lhasa Apso puppy, Toffee, and found him cowering behind a sofa.

As firefighters tackled the blaze shortly after 4pm on Monday, friends set up a Facebook page called Save A Family at Christmas in Widnes.

Within hours, cash, clothes, presents, food, toys, bedding, toiletries, household goods and Christmas decorations had been donated.

Wellwishers have offered a washer dryer, pushchair, beds, chairs and various other items of furniture, as the Facebook appeal has attracted almost 2,000 ‘likes’.

Argos has pledged £250, whilst Tesco, ToysRus, Asda, various other shops, businesses and market traders have offered to donate goods.

Pubs are organising charity nights.

Steph and her husband, Chris, aged 25, an apprentice plasterer, say they have been moved to tears by everyone’s response.

Steph said: “I can’t cry anymore. I’m overwhelmed, speechless. I just want to thank every single person.

“You have saved my kids’ Christmas.”

Dad-of-two Ashley Norman, aged 24, from Hough Green, who set up the Facebook page, said: “I just wanted to do something to help.

“I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to my twins.

“The response has been just unbelievable. The community here is brilliant.”

 

 

Gemma Spruce, aged 29, manager of Key Cars, has turned her Albert Road office into a collection point until the family finds a home.

She said: “We’ve been inundated with donations. It’s absolutely amazing.

“Everyone wants to help. Drivers are handing in cash from the street.”

Making a donation, Karen Smith from Halton View said: “This is what Christmas is about, helping and giving to others.

“It’s great to see this community spirit.”

Steph is now trying to find a new home for her family.

She said: “I’m absolutely exhausted. I haven’t slept.

“I think I’m still in shock. It makes me feel sick when I think of what could have happened.

“ I just want to hug my boys and get them settled.

“I want to try and keep everything as normal as possible for them.

“When I’m on my own afterwards, I’ll probably just sit down and cry.”

The cause of the fire is still being investigated.