Cafe fire appeal beats fundraising target

The fire last week is not thought to be suspicious

A fundraiser for a couple whose cafe was devastated by a fire has raised more than £7,000.

Smoke and flames were reported coming from the 900 Cafe in Wallingford's St Mary's Street on Wednesday.

Fellow shop owner Nina Sarpong started the fundraiser and said owners Gabriel and Andrea Matei were a "lovely couple" who had embraced the town.

Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue previously said the fire appeared to be accidental and there was no evidence of "foul play".

Ms Sarpong, who owns Runwize, a sports shop directly opposite the cafe, said the incident had affected the town.

"Gabriel and Andrea are such a lovely couple and they really part of Wallingford's community," she said.

"We just wanted to help them as much as we could, in any way that we can."

She added: "I've even had people come into the shop and say: if I gave you £5, would you put it on for me?

"They've just embraced Wallingford as a community and the community has embraced them back".

Firefighters said they were able access the cafe quickly and contain the blaze to a first floor landing.