A MUM has praised the generosity of strangers who helped out after her home burnt down.

Suzanne Martin was made homeless last week when her council house, in Lexden Court, Colchester, was destroyed by a fire.

Ms Martin, daughters Tanya, 26 and Alisha, 11, and year-old grandson Tyler lost everything in the June 17 fire.

Although they have been rehoused in Iceni Way by Colchester Council, their new flat had no beds, tables chairs, kitchen appliances or television.

However since moving in, Ms Martin, 45, said she had been inundated with generous offers in response to an appeal on the Facebook website.

One woman has even loaned a laptop so Suzanne’s daughter Alisha, 11, can keep up with her school work.

Ms Martin, said: “I want to thank everybody who has helped me. People have donated so much beautiful stuff. It’s really is overwhelming.

“You wouldn’t believe what people I don’t even know have given me.

“It’s only because of them that I’m now sitting on a settee.”

If it hadn’t been for such kindness, Ms Martin said she would have been left high and dry, as Colchester Borough Homes, which manages the area’s council housing, had not been very helpful.

She said: “I’ve done nothing but chase around. I’ve had to do all the running. It’s been horrendous.

“It’s something you don’t want to do when you’ve just lost everything.

It just seems every time I call the council I’m banging my head against a wall.”

Ms Martin said she called first thing on Thursday morning to ask for temporary housing, but the family had spent two nights on friends’ sofas.

They finally got a temporary two-bed unfurnished flat on Friday evening.

A Colchester Borough Homes spokesman said: “We have been supporting Ms Martin and quickly placed her into suitable accommodation.

“We have also supplied essential living items including furniture, food and a microwave and support for an application for emergency funding.

“We have also organised for an electric cooker to be delivered and connected by the end of this week.”