Victims of a Hayle house fire who were left with 'only the clothes they escaped in' on Monday are now being aided by donations from a Helston supermarket and local wellwishers.

A mother and her four sons fled the blaze at their home in Harbour View at around 9pm, after a fire broke out in a bedroom and flames could be seen coming from the windows.

Thirty one firefighters from Hayle, Tolvadden and St Ives fire stations together with specialist fire appliances from Falmouth and St Just fire stations were sent to the two storey end of terrace house, and crew wearing breathing apparatus used two hose reels, a covering jet and several main jets to put out the fire, before cutting away ceilings and floorboards to expose hotspots and put them out with hoses.

Sarah Lightfoot, sister of the homeowner Helen, appealed for help on Facebook on Tuesday morning.

She wrote: "Help needed please my sister and her four boys lost their home last night in a fire they only have the clothes they escaped in they don't even have shoes."

A collection point for donations has been set up at Tesco in Helston, and the shop has given more than £100 worth of clothing to the family.

Nikki Walker, the store's community champion, said: "We have a collection bin in our foyer for the children who lost everything in the fire last night.

"We are getting some clothing together and hopefully people will donate what they can.

"You just rally round with this sort of thing."

Writing on Facebook, Sarah said the family needed the clothes as they don't yet know when they will be rehomed.

She asked people to donate clothing in a women's size 12, and children's sizes 6/7, 8/9, 10/11, and 13/14 for the boys, and added "thank you in advance."