A family left homeless by fire have been inundated with gifts and replacement clothing after neighbours and strangers came to their aid.

Sisters Vanessa and Jackie Garner appealed for help to replace clothing and other possessions they lost in the blaze at their rented house in Fernbank Road, Undercliffe, Bradford.

Vanessa, 23, and Jackie, 39, fled the flames with their 64-year-old mother Joyce Garner, Jackie's 16-year-old son Trevor Scott, 16, and Vanessa's four-year-old daughter Leanne.

The family had been woken by loud bangs at 4.15am when windows in their home began to shatter in the heat.

The flames had quickly spread from a fire that is believed to have started in the kitchen.

The family's pets - a chinchilla, two cats, a dog and a puppy - were also saved from the flames.

But they weren't to be left without clothes and essential items for long, as people soon rallied round.

Vanessa and Jackie said they were very grateful for the donations of clothes, cutlery, pots and pans and other items which had been made since their plight was highlighted in the Telegraph & Argus.

The charity Christians Against Poverty, which has a base in Midland Road, Bradford, also stepped in with a delivery of essential items for the family, who have been temporarily re-housed by Bradford Council in Heaton.

But Vanessa said today they were still desperate for clothes for Trevor.

"He lost all his Bradford City things - posters, his flag, shirt, everything. He was absolutely devastated."

Anyone who can help the Garners should ring (01274) 496945.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.