Why we had to help 'lovely' family on DIY SOS

Volunteers supporting a "lovely family" who have had their home renovated on BBC television show DIY SOS have been talking about their "wonderful" experience on the programme.

Work at Ahmed and Rifat Ali's home in Southampton took a week to complete.

The couple, who are both deaf and have an autistic son, were left devastated when they lost £72,000 after paying for a ground floor extension in April that was not completed – and later discovered the builder had previously been taken to court.

The community welcomed more than 150 tradespeople and production staff into the street and allowed them access to gardens and offered refreshments.

Cat Adelova is one of the more than 150 tradespeople who have volunteered during the past week

Cat Adelova, a self-employed plumber from Winchester, is one of those giving up her time.

"It's one of those things I've always wanted to do and when I saw it was local then I was like there's no question I'm doing it," she said.

"A few weeks ago, we came to look at the building work that had been done and everyone agreed the extension was just horrific. The whole of the ground floor of their house was like a building site.

"This is a chance to show people that most of us are good honest people and we just we want to put this right and we want to make this right for them."

Sarah Dibben, from the Coffee Nation South van, arrived at the site to offer up free coffees for everyone involved "to say thanks".

She said: "We don't normally get the DIY SOS team or people like this around here so wanted to do my bit. It's absolutely wonderful."

Gabrielle Blackman has been part of the DIY SOS family for 14 years

The show's interior designer, Gabrielle Blackman, has been on site putting the finishing touches to the project.

She said: "We're super stressed, but what has been achieved is unbelievable.

"It's really, really important for the family, where they've had such a difficult time, that they have been listened to and we give them what they need. That they walk back and it feels like their home."

Presenter Nick Knowles told BBC Radio Solent the whole community had come together.

He said: "It's unbelievable. We have to close down the road because we've got various vehicles coming up and down so the whole street sort of becomes a site where you have to have a hard-hat.

"But I've got to say, 99% of the neighbours around here have been absolutely fabulous and this family is so well loved in this area that it was never a problem for the neighbours. They were all desperate for us to get here and get the job done for them."

Bob (right) and Carol have opened their garden up to the workers

And those living in the street have been just as involved. Bob said his "faith in humanity was damaged" after discovering what had happened to his neighbours, so he wanted to help in any way he could.

"I was really upset about it, and when the show offered to help, it really restored my faith in humanity," he said.

"All we're doing is letting them walk through as we're so proud of them."

Meanwhile, neighbours Jan and Don also gave up their garden for volunteers getting stuck into the renovation.

"They'll drive the heavy machinery in our garden so they can get round the side to take out fence panels. We've only got a small garden, so it won't take up much of our space, and it'll be worth it," Don said.

Jan added: "We don't mind all the builders and work going on in the street as it needs to be done for them and we're pleased it's happening."

Ahmed and Rifat Ali will see their finished home on Wednesday morning

The family got to see their finished home on Wednesday morning.

Mr Ali said they had been through a "horrendous" time since the work at their home had originally stopped in April.

He said: "We've had to live upstairs and cook in the bedroom, as we couldn't go downstairs to use the kitchen or get in the garden."

However, he added they were feeling more positive now they were being helped by the DIY SOS team and it felt like a "dream come true".

The final episode will be broadcast on BBC One next year.