COMMUNITY spirit shown through for one neighbourhood after a shed was set on fire in Margrove Park near Saltburn.

Andy Williams' neighbour Mandy's shed was set on fire after a bike was stolen from the shed and an arsonist set the shed alight which spread to Andy's summerhouse.

Andy said: "A fire started in the shed of our next door neighbours garden. They were all out. I was working. My wife, Jane, and her dad, Dave, saw the black smoke coming from round our back. Jane’s dad Dave rang her and said “what’s going on out your back?”

"It turned out to be a small fire that accelerated quickly taking out the shed and its contents, the steel storage unit behind the shed, our fence, Brenda’s fence (number 70) and our summerhouse.

"My wife called the fire brigade but Margrove Park being a village of 100 old miners cottages, is a close knit community, news and smoke travelled fast and we had friends from all over the village at the scene in minutes. They arrived with buckets and hoses trying their best to contain the fire until the fire brigade arrived.

"Without our neighbours help our summerhouse would have been burnt to the ground. As it is there’s only cosmetic materiel damage still to the tune of approximately £1,000 though, but it could have been so much worse. The summerhouse was a wedding present from Jane’s mum and dad. Dave built the whole thing by himself whilst we were on our honeymoon. It has sentimental value and for my wife to see it on fire was upsetting. When next door came back they were devastated. They knew there were bikes, a mower, a strimmer, motor bike gear and much more in the shed. It had all gone up in smoke."

The whole community then rallied together to clear up Mandy's, who is a Teaching Assistant, garden - who had had went back to work for the first time since the lockdown that day.

Andy said: "I am overwhelmed and uplifted by the support of the community."

Residents from Margrove Park have now set up a Go Fund Me page for Mandy, Brenda and other people who lost items due to the fire.

To donate go to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/margrove-park-arson