More than £7,500 has been raised to help support the family of a man and his 14-year-old daughter killed in a West Cumbrian house fire.
Fifty-eight-year-old Paul Scott, known as Archie, and his daughter Mia, died following the blaze at Toll Bar Cottages, Distington, in the early hours of Sunday. Their black Labrador Ged also died.
The incident is not being treated as suspicious and an investigation is ongoing on behalf of the coroner.
Villagers wanted to do something to help the family and their neighbours, whose homes had been damaged, so launched an appeal.
The set up a Justgiving page online and set a £5,000 target. They have so far raised £7,528.
The page says: “The news broke throughout the community of Distington and West Cumbria of a house fire that tragically took the lives of a father and his teenage daughter, leaving behind a devastated wife and mother Caroline.
“We can’t begin to imagine what she must be going through. In its wake the fire has destroyed the family home and caused severe damage to the terraced houses either side.
“We believe that if this fundraising makes even the tiniest bit of difference in the coming months then we MUST because we can. There is a lot of comfort to be gained from a community that can come together in these times of need and show that we truly care.”
