More than £7k raised after fire destroys kebab shop

A fundraising campaign for small business and residents next to a building that caught fire has reached more than £7,000.

The fire at the kebab shop on Northgate Street in Devizes, Wiltshire, broke out on Tuesday morning.

Local Kayleigh Sainsbury started the fundraiser and has now increased the target from £5,000 to £10,000 after finding out the flats next door were also affected.

She said the shop owner and workers who live above the shop and have lost "everything" are "just really lovely people - they're so well known around Devizes".

The street around the property had to be closed off.

While nobody was hurt in the fire, it is believed the business owner lost important documents.

Ms Sainsbury, who knows the men who work in the kebab shop, said she could see the smoke and flames from her own property.

She messaged to find out if they were safe, first thinking it was just them affected, but has since discovered that the fire was bad enough that neighbouring buildings with homes were damaged.

"We're hoping £10,000 can go a long way" she said, adding that people in Devizes have already been generous.

"One the day of incident, a number of people came and donated clothing, towels, toiletries, food, anything they could spare," she added.

Ms Sainsbury said those running the kebab shop are "lovely" and well-known around the town.

The road around the building has had to be closed and bus stops moved as a result of the fire.

At one point, 30 firefighters and six fire engines were tackling the blaze.

Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service is investigating the cause of the fire.