A COUPLE who lost everything after a fire wrecked their Cam home have thanked the community for raising £900 so they could get back on their feet.

The inside of Pete and Maureen Poole’s bungalow in The Crapen was left in tatters after a fire broke out in their kitchen last month.

Neighbours and friends were quick to begin a collection to get behind “the couple who would do anything for anybody” – and to date have managed to raise £900.

Mr and Mrs Poole, 82 and 79 respectively, have been relocated to Nailsworth temporarily while insurers deal with their home. They say they “have accepted what happened and are getting on with things”.

“The most important thing now is thanking people for their kindness,” said Mrs Poole.

“It was absolutely soul destroying to find out that all you have is the clothes on your back but the support from our neighbours has been wonderful – I can’t even describe the feeling.

“We’re so lucky. It was the last thing in the world we expected when we came back the next day, but it meant we could get some clothes and start buying what we needed.”

The blaze began at about 11am on Wednesday, April 8. Mrs Poole was out walking their dog Blaze and accidentally left the hob on their cooker lit. Mr Poole was at an appointment at the doctors.

It is then suspected that one of the Poole’s cats knocked a plastic scale onto the top of the oven which ignited on the open flame.

The incident required 10 firefighters to tackle the smoke-logged property. Five pet cats were rescued and, after check-ups – were deemed unharmed by the smoke. Mrs Poole herself was treated for smoke inhalation but did not have to go to hospital.

Though the Poole’s and their pets came out of the incident unscathed, the majority of their possessions were smoke-damaged and had to be destroyed.

Mr Poole said: “We’ve been here 15 years, so this is our home and we’ve accumulated quite a lot of bits, some of them sentimental.

“Some things can be washed but most will just have to go.

“We’ve just accepted what has happened now and are getting on with it – but local people have been really great.”

It was neighbour Jackie Smart who led the campaign to help the Pooles. The day after the fire she walked up and down the Crapen collecting money, getting £270 right away.

On top of the money received on people’s doorsteps, collection boxes were put in local shops and a story in the Gazette at the time urged people in the area to donate.

Mrs Poole said: “Jackie is an absolute angel and people have just been unbelievable – our neighbours, shops, the local butchers.

“Now we just want to get back home as quickly as possible to live in a community with such lovely people.”

Though the situation is not ideal, the Pooles are content as they are, and say all they can do now is wait until their home is restored.