Clehonger family praise community help after flat fire

Mandi Beavan (left), her partner and her daughter Tia were all at work when the blaze happened

A family who will spend Christmas in a hotel after a fire badly damaged their home said the response from the community had been "amazing".

Mandi Beavan, her partner Roy and daughter Tia were all at work at the time of the blaze on 7 December in Clehonger, near Hereford.

Their dog died in the fire and Ms Beavan said they were left with only the clothes they were wearing.

"It was horrific, absolutely horrific," she said.

"Everything else has gone. I have a lot of sentimental things - I lost my dad and I have all his bits and bobs in the house that will be gone."

Ms Beavan had just started her shift in the shop where she worked when the daughter of a friend came running into the store and asked if she had a coal fire.

When she said no, she was urged to quickly return home as smoke was "pouring" from the roof.

"As soon as I turned the corner, I knew there was no hope to get my dog out as I've never seen smoke like it, pouring from everywhere," Ms Beavan said.

Smoke damaged the flat and the family's dog died in the blaze

Firefighters put out the blaze, but Norbit the pug died inside, and the flat, part of a block of four, was badly damaged by smoke.

"Everything in there is just black, ash or plastic, melted plastic. It's really upsetting, I don't like coming back," she said.

"We've been here 23 years, my daughter was born here."

• Listen on BBC Sounds to Mandi Beaven and daughter Tia as they face Christmas in a hotel

Since the fire, the family have had to stay in a nearby Travelodge, as the housing association that owns the flat locked it up, and are waiting to rehome them.

A fundraising campaign was launched to help them rebuild their lives and more than £4,300 was pledged while the family were also offered goods and food.

"It makes you appreciate life, I'm so grateful for everyone and got such an amazing family and friends, work colleagues, strangers - [they've] just been amazing," Ms Beavan said.

"It just keeps you going each day, we didn't expect it, it's so nice."

The cause of the fire was still under investigation, the fire service said.

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: [e-mail]