A DEVASTATED family left with nothing after a fire ravaged through their house has thanked the community for their support.

Toni and Martin Hanchant's freezer overheated and exploded last Friday and within minutes flames had gutted their council property, forcing terrified son Tyler, 13, to flee the scene.

The family had no contents insurance.

Left with nothing apart from the clothes they were wearing, the family says the light at the end of its “absolute nightmare” has been the generous reaction of the Andover community.

Tyler, who was home alone, was treated for smoke inhalation following the fire, which took firefighters two hours to get under control in North Acre, Longparish.

Since then hundreds of pounds in cash has been donated by friends and strangers while dozens of items including children's clothes, TVs, beds, fridges, tables, chairs, sofas, towels and bedding have also been pledged.

Dad-of-three Martin said: “We've been completely overwhelmed what people have done for us, without them we'd be knackered.

“It's been an absolute nightmare. Friday was the day from hell, but the reaction has been incredible and shows community spirit is still alive in this day and age.

“We'd just like to thank Emma Porter, Lucy Edmiston Kemp, Leanne Field and all the many, many people who've helped us.”

Martin, his wife Toni, and their children Tyler, eight-year-old Sky and Alfie, three, stayed with family for a few days before moving into a new council house in Admirals Way on Wednesday.

He added: “We loved our house in North Acre, we moved there two years ago from Roman Way to give the kids some more space.

“We spent a fortune doing it up, but absolutely everything is gone.”

Martin, who is an electrician, said he hoped their plight would encourage families to make sure they have contents insurance.

The 37-year-old said: “We took the decision last summer not to renew it, it was an extra bill that we couldn't really afford so we decided to go without it.

“We know friends and family who did the same, but this has made them all sit up and think.”

Emma Porter, who used to look after Alfie at nursery, set up an online fund and within a couple of days £400 had been donated.

The 25-year-old said: “It's an awful thing to happen so I thought it'd be nice to help in some way.”

The fire brigade said the “entire property was 100 per cent damaged by smoke” and that investigations concluded it was the freezer which had overheated.