Market traders in fundraising bid for fire victims

Stu and Bev Tooby have organised the collection

A donation stall is to be set up at a market to help the victims of a devastating fire in Nuneaton.

Families living on Alexandra Street were left homeless after a boiler reportedly exploded and destroyed a terraced house, as well as damaging the homes on either side, on 23 April.

Traders have organised a collection for those affected at the town's market on Saturday.

Stu Tooby, who runs a well-known sweet stall in the town, championed the fundraiser after he went to see the damage caused.

The fire broke out after a boiler reportedly exploded

He said: "My heart's in the right place to help these people.

"I've been and seen the disaster myself. I'm completely shocked.

"I'm amazed we didn't lose life there. We went there and I thought, we've got to help these [people]."

His wife, Bev Tooby said the people involved "had lost everything".

She said the couple wanted people to be aware of the situation the families were in, adding: "We are just trying to help them as much as we can."