Market traders in fundraising bid for fire victims

Lia Desai
BBC Radio CWR
Tanya Gupta
BBC News, West Midlands
Stu and Bev Tooby Stu and Bev Tooby stand behind their sweet stall at Nuneaton market. There is a blue canopy over the stall and many different types of products are laid out with signs. The couple are standing together, with their arms around each other.Stu and Bev Tooby
Stu and Bev Tooby have organised the collection

A donation stall is to be set up at a market to help the victims of a devastating fire in Nuneaton.

Families living on Alexandra Street were left homeless after a boiler reportedly exploded and destroyed a terraced house, as well as damaging the homes on either side, on 23 April.

Traders have organised a collection for those affected at the town's market on Saturday.

Stu Tooby, who runs a well-known sweet stall in the town, championed the fundraiser after he went to see the damage caused.

A residential street where a fire has ripped through the roof of three properties. A firefighter is in front of the houses and a grey car is also parked there.
The fire broke out after a boiler reportedly exploded

He said: "My heart's in the right place to help these people.

"I've been and seen the disaster myself. I'm completely shocked.

"I'm amazed we didn't lose life there. We went there and I thought, we've got to help these [people]."

His wife, Bev Tooby said the people involved "had lost everything".

She said the couple wanted people to be aware of the situation the families were in, adding: "We are just trying to help them as much as we can."

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