Appeal fund set up for Banburyshire family who have lost all their belongings in a house fire

Natasha and William Smith and their four children are crammed into two-bedroomed, temporary housing while officials try to get them a larger alternative.

But the family is just grateful to have a roof over their heads and that firefighters were able to rescue their dog, Goose.

"We don't know the cause of the fire but it came from the cooker while the children were at school and my husband, William, and I were out with the baby," said Mrs Smith, who is a special needs teacher, currently on maternity leave.

"Fortunately, no one was in the house except the dog which had to be treated for smoke inhalation. Firemen were brilliant and managed to get him out."

Two of the children, Lorelei, ten, and Phoenix, nine, were at the village primary school. Two-year-old Theodor (known as Teddy) was at nursery in Heyford Park. Baby Lyra, a lockdown baby who is five-months-old, was with her Mum and Dad. The fire had been extinguished by the time they were alerted by neighbours and returned home.

"Someone brought us home and fire brigade was there, four machines, and one of the firemen was giving Goose water. The house was still incredibly smokey and all the windows black. Our next door neighbours, an elderly couple, have had to have everything cleaned too because of the smoke," said Mrs Smith.

"We are in temporary housing in Bicester. It is a squeeze but we are so grateful. My daughter is sleeping in the living room area so the boys can share a room and the baby is in with me and my husband.

"Faithworks furniture project in Banbury gave us essential furniture. Our housing officer has been fantastic.

"It's hard to accept we are a family in crisis. We are waiting for a three-bedroom house to become available, hopefully in Fritwell where the children are at school.

"The village was fantastic - school knew on the day and sorted uniform for the kids; one of the parents had a collection for clothes, nappies, toiletries and a double buggy and someone donated a washing machine and dishwasher. Wrightons, the butchers are storing donated furniture for us."

Mrs Smith said the family was put up in Middle Aston House hotel for a week and a half. There, staff made them welcome, providing a separate dining room for the family. One staff member gave toys and gifts to the children.

She said they hope to save some photographs, personal belongings such as babies' handprints, passports, driving licences from the remains, once they are allowed back in.

"My purse was in the house and my wedding ring was in the cabinet next to the cooker so I am sure that has been destroyed by the heat," said Mrs Smith.

"We are just grateful that we and the dog are safe. And we're very grateful to all those who have donated to the GoFundMe appeal which will help us so much when we do get rehoused. It would be great to have a new home by Christmas but we are just grateful to have a roof over our heads.

"My big advice to people is please make sure your contents insurance is sorted - for the first time, ours had lapsed for a few months. We never thought for a moment that this would happen. We did have smoke alarms which alerted the neighbours to the fire or it could have been even worse."

If you would like to donate to the GoFundMe appeal see the page here.