DYSON worker Natasha Wartnaby, who lost everything when fire ripped through her home, has spoken of her amazement at the response of friends and neighbours to her plight.”

Ms Wartnaby, 37, and her 11 year-old son Sam were left homeless when fire gutted their semi-detached house in Silveston Way last Thursday while she was at the dentist.

Now the Malmesbury charity HEALS has launched a £2,000 House Crisis Fire Fund and are also appealing for furniture and other essential items to replace those destroyed in the fire.

Ms Wartnaby, a Malmesbury resident for many years, moved in with her sister in the town but has now been found a temporary home.

She has been hugely touched at the response from local people who have made donations ranging from a bed to a kitchen clock, pots and pans and a microwave.

She said: “I am tired but also overwhelmed by people's generosity and messages of support. It is astounding that people who I've never met have come out to help me put my home back together. “

Ms Wartnaby’s three cats escaped the blaze, although one required veterinary treatment after being singed while running through the flames.

She said: “I am particularly grateful to the gentleman looking after two of my cats. My son and I are visiting them every day.

“The third one, Lucy, is with me. She had to run through the fire to get out and in doing so burnt her paws and ears and she inhaled smoke too. So Lucy is getting a lot of TLC and cream on her burns.

“People are so kind. Lumley’s of Malmesbury have donated cat food and cat litter.”

“We know it will be many months before we can be back in our house. To be able to close the door and be ourselves, knowing we are safe will be fantastic.

“Meanwhile I can't thank enough The Red Cross on the day and the fantastic team at HEALS of Malmesbury for all they are doing to find and furnish a home and of course everyone that is helping them do it.”

Crews from Tetbury, Chippenham and Cricklade, supported by the aerial appliance from Swindon, attended fire at 2.35pm Thursday.

It is believed to have been started in or near a small shed at the rear of the property before spreading to the house. The exact cause is still being investigated.

Ms Wartnaby was contacted by friends while she was undergoing dental treatment as the fire raged, while her son was with his father at the time.

The chairman of HEALS, Gavin Grant, who has been in regular contact with Ms Wartnaby since the blaze said: “She has lost absolutely everything in her home, as has Sam.

“No one was in the house when the fire spread to it so there was no-one there to raise the alarm.”

Such was the severity of the blaze, which left the home gutted, that Mr Grant felt it would probably be nearer Easter than Christmas when it was ready for the pair to return.

HEALS is working with the Green Square Housing Association, which owns the house, and Wiltshire Council to find accommodation in Malmesbury which would enable Ms Wartnaby, who doesn’t have a car, to continue working at Dyson.

Mr Grant said: “Imagine returning home and discovering that you have lost absolutely everything. It’s absolutely devastating.

“They will now need all sorts of things – from tables to storage jars – and people are responding very well. Malmesbury is a big hearted town. Natasha has been greatly lifted by the generosity of what people are doing.”

It is understood that the family who live next door to Ms Wartnaby, whose home was also badly damaged during the incident and is now uninhabitable, are still unaware of the fire as they are away on holiday.

Firefighters forced their way into the property which was threatened by advancing flames and as a result suffered fire and water damage. The family only moved to the Malmesbury six to eight weeks ago.

HEALS is asking people to donate by putting cash in an envelope marked ‘house fire’ and dropping it into its High Street offices. Cheques should be made to HEALS with ‘house fire crisis fund’ on the back. A House Fire Crisis Fund Facebook page is also up and running.