The couple who lost everything when fire ripped through their family home in Wisbech have thanked the many hundreds of people who offered practical help and support.

Wisbech Standard: Richard and Vicky Blackwell who lost almost everything in a house fire in WisbechRichard and Vicky Blackwell who lost almost everything in a house fire in Wisbech (Image: Archant)

Richard and Vicky Blackwell were filmed by the BBC at Orchards primary school, Wisbech, where numerous items of clothing and gifts had been delivered.

.Mr Blackwell said he was overwhelmed by the charities, families, friends and “really nice people” who had given support.

“It’s been excellent,” he told the BBC.

His wife said that never in a million years did her family expect such an overwhelming response.

“There are so many to thank I don’t know where to start,” she said.

Their one-year-old son Breydon is still recovering after suffering serious burns in the fire last month at Lime Avenue. Their older children, aged two, four and seven, escaped relatively unscathed.

Donations flooded in to the school attended by the older children and money totalling more than £1,000 pledged to help them get back on their feet.

A local firm donated furniture, Tesco have offered to kit the boys out with new school uniform and Wisbech Lions have offered to help re-decorate their rented home.

David Harwin is a neighbour and described how Mr Blackwell went back into the burning house to rescue his family and young children.

He praised his neighbour who “went into to the burning house, risking his own life and suffering injuries himself. Yes, I know we all say we would run into a burning building but this man has actually done it.

“I’m proud to call him a friend.”

Three crews of firefighters from Cambridgeshire and Norfolk were called to the scene and spent most of the day damping down the area and making sure there were no other hotspots.