A FAMILY who lost everything in a house fire have thanked their local community for the "over-whelming" support they have received since the blaze.

Debbie O'Connor and her three children were left homeless after fire gutted their house in New Lane, Oswaldtwistle.

But their community has rallied around the family organising collections and donating supplies.

In the latest piece of generosity the Church and Oswaldtwistle Rotary club handed over a cheque for £250 to buy urgently needed clothes.

Debbie, 41, is currently living with children Dale, 16, Shaun, 15 and Melissa, seven, at a friend's house in New Lane.

She said: "The support of the Rotary has meant so much. It has been over-whelming.

"I would like to say a big thank you to them for all of their kindness and generosity."

Lennie Herbert, of Church and Oswaldtwistle Rotary Club, first read about their plight in the Evening Telegraph.

He said: "We immediately promised we were going to help them and it is great to have been able to do so.

"We want to help them even more."