We've been left homeless by a fire at our Blackpool home but everyone has been so kind to us

A devoted mum and her 13-year-old son have been left homeless after a fire tore through the first floor of their home in Blackpool.

Sue Ashe, 37, and son McKenzie have been sleeping on a neighbour’s sofa since the blaze in Chesterfield Road on Monday evening - and Sue has expressed her gratitude for the way neighbours have rallied round to help them.

Along with offers of essential items, there has even been a gift of a new tracksuit for McKenzie, whose 14th birthday is this Sunday.

“Our neighbour Sharon Fitton has been putting us up since the fire and I am consulting with the council on what accommodation there might be for us.

“Our landlady has been very helpful and understanding but it looks like it will be a while before we can get back in there.

“It started in a bedroom - the investigators think from an extension lead - and that’s been stripped back to the brick, with smoke damage through the rest of the first floor.

“But there doesn’t seem to be any major structural damage, which is good news.”

Sue and McKenzie were both away from the house visiting a neighbour at the time of the fire, with McKenzie only having left a few minutes earlier.

Their one-year-old dog Bonnie was in the house but managed to escape.

“We have been here for 13 years and it’s the only home McKenzie has known so he is especially upset,” said Sue.

“It’s a terrible situation but the way people have rallied round for us has really helped. We enjoy living here and there are a great bunch of people.”

Five fire engines and the aerial ladder platform from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service attended the incident on Monday evening after the alarm was raised at 8.24pm, with crews remaining at the scene until the following morning.

Firefighters used six breathing apparatus, three hose reel jets and three positive pressure ventilation fans to extinguish the fire.