COMMUNIY spirit is very much alive in Hay-on-Wye where residents have raised hundreds of pounds to help a family left devastated by a fire.

The family, who had recently moved to the area, lost everything when fire engulfed the living room and kitchen of their property in Castle Street on Saturday afternoon.

Despite never having met the family Alison Greenow and Debbie Davies, of Londis grocery store in High Town began collecting money to help them.

"We thought it was a bonfire at first," said Alison.

"When we realised what had happened we thought that we had to help them as they had lost everything.

"Before we knew it we had been given a string of £5 and £10 notes from people who didn't know them and the immediate response has been brilliant. It's a shame that it was under bad circumstances to get to know them but I met the couple today and they are lovely. The gesture has proved to them that they made the right decision moving to Hay.

"It has always been the same in Hay that people are ready to support and help anybody during anything like that. On Sundays we are only open between 8am and noon and are usually quiet but managed to raise £300 in the pot.

"It was just a string of people coming in to help them out."

The cause of the fire is being investigated by the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service.