AN ALLOA man raising funds for his in-laws after a fire devastated their family home of 40 years has been touched by people's generosity.

The Wee County's Jamie Gorrian, who started raising funds for his partner's parents Mary and Jock after the blaze ripped through their home on February 3, has issued a nod of thanks with nearly £2,000 collected in just a few days.

The fundraiser is still going strong and the money will help the retired couple, who worked hard during their days, rebuild their lives.

While insurance will, in time, help to reinstate the four walls and roof above their heads, Mary and Jock lost almost all of their possessions to the flames.

Jamie told the Advertiser: “It's obviously devastating for the whole family but for Mary and Jock, it's completely devastating because it's everything they had, they've lived there for 40 years.”

The couple were left with nothing but the clothes they were wearing at the time of the fire along with some family photos of sentimental value which were later rescued.

The blaze broke out in the loft area, it is understood.

The roof collapsed with the inferno ripping through the second floor.

It took some time for the fire to be extinguished as crews, who arrived within minutes, battled the blaze.

Thankfully no one was injured, but the smoke and gallons of water ruined the first floor with the house rendered uninhabitable.

Daughter Gail McAndrew and Jamie are currently looking after Mary and Jock (John) Brockie, a former miner, in the Wee County.

Gail spoke to Advertiser sister publication Central Fife Times about the fire, which took hold almost exactly 40 years after they moved in.

She said: "Everything they have ever worked for is gone.

"The family doesn't come from a money background, they have had to work so hard.

"It's hard to accept what has happened. It's been the family home for 40 years. It's ruined.

"There's so many memories, all gone."

At the time of the fire, Gail was taking her 68-year-old mum to the cemetery but Jock, 74, was in the living room when events started to unfold.

Interlinked fire alarms went off and neighbours were "kicking and screaming at the door shouting for him to get out quickly", Gail explained.

While the insurance may pay for brick and mortar with a rebuild potentially taking around a year, the couple will need much more to help refurnish the house.

Speaking about the fundraiser, Jamie said: “I'd like to thank everybody that's donated so far, it's been very kind and it's moved us, particularly Mary.

“Please donate, it's to a good cause, they are good people.”

To help Mary and Jock, visit gofundme.com/f/to-help-jock-and-mary-rebuild-there-lives.