A FAMILY lost almost everything they own in a devastating house fire and are now homeless, just weeks before Christmas.

Adam Newsham and his partner Danielle Massey, have thanked the community for rallying around them following a major blaze at their Stockton home yesterday.

A faulty tumbledryer sparked the devastating fire, which Ms Massey tried to battle alone before fleeing the house with her one-year-old daughter Isabella.

Upon hearing about the blaze, Mr Newsham left work at Burger King in Darlington but in his frantic efforts to get back to his family, snapped the accelerator cable on his car and broke down on the A66.

He eventually made it home to find the Dunmail Road property uninhabitable and that the family had lost almost everything they owned – including clothes, electronic goods and Christmas presents for Isabella and their son, four-year-old Christian.

Mr Newsham said: “My partner was at home with our baby when the fire alarm started going off.

“She saw the fire and tried to put it out with our fire extinguisher but couldn’t so she grabbed Izzy and ran out.

“The tumbledryer was only six months old, it was still under warranty.

“I tried to come home but I wasn’t driving very sensibly and ended up broken down on the A66 and had to get someone to pick me up – I was kicking the car at the roadside.

“I got there and saw all the tape up around the house and ran straight under it and saw the damage.

“We’ve lost everything in the kitchen and dining room, most of our clothes which were downstairs, electronic stuff, all the Christmas presents.

“Our beds are totally smoke damaged and the house is totally uninhabitable – we’re living at my mum’s and the kids are staying at my sister’s house now.

“It’s just for now, but it’s not an ideal situation because we were renting the house and now have to look for somewhere else to live because that one will take six months to year before it can be lived in.

“We’re all alright, we are not doing too badly but I felt awful when I saw it and especially when I broke down.

“My partner’s been quite emotional but I think it will hit home when we’re trying to find a new house, that will be the hard bit.”

Friends and family have shown their support with a fundraising appeal launched by Mr Newsham’s work colleague, Zoe Degnall.

Mr Newsham said: “I’m grateful, I cannot believe how kind people are being.

“We are so appreciative and would like to thank Zoe for the help, she’s really gone the extra mile for us.”

A representative from Cleveland Fire Brigade gave general advice to say that tumbledryers and washing machines should be run only when someone is at home.

To donate, visit: gofundme.com/help-towards-childrens-christmas