A 63-year-old Blaenffos woman whose home was badly damaged in a fire has launched a desperate crowd-funding appeal for help.

Jeanette John is having to live in two downstairs rooms with her five cats without electricity or water after the fire destroyed much of the upstairs of her 124-year-old Rose Cottage home.

She was not insured and cannot afford the repairs that could run up to £50,000.

“I am really hoping for the kindness and generosity of strangers,” said Mrs John. “I have no electricity or water and have to depend on a couple of neighbours for use of toilet/shower/laundry/phone charging and use of laptop. It’s not a good situation in any way.

“I have been told the work will take approximately three months, possibly four.

“The only income I have is £150 a month that my husband gives me from his pension - we have been separated for four years - and what I can make from selling my possessions at car boot sales. I do not have any savings and do not receive any benefits and because of this I could not afford to pay for insurance.”

The cottage requires a complete new roof, loft, beams, trusses, insulation, total rewiring and new water heater and at least two new radiators upstairs, two new ceilings and part of the walls in the two bedrooms that were worst affected. There is also a possibility the bathroom cannot be saved and will have to be rebuilt.

“My son is doing his best to try to help me financially but nine years ago he paid off our mortgage when my husband was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease and prostate cancer. I know helping this time could bankrupt him and I do not want that to happen,” said Mrs John.

Now her son Christopher has set up an on-line appeal for help for his mum.

“I have never done this sort of thing before but I am desperate. My cats and I need our home back and for life to be normal again. At the moment they are so traumatised that they have all found hiding places and won't come out. I sometimes wish I could do the same,” said Mrs John

“We have no choice but to remain in the cottage as there is nowhere available for us to go so we are living in the front room and kitchen that were only affected by smoke and water damage.

“I am having to sleep in one smoky-smelling armchair as I just cannot sleep on a tile floor and to say it is uncomfortable is an understatement. Never have I missed my bed more but I lost mattresses, bedding, wardrobes, clothing, books etc.

“I am depending on the kindness of strangers as I have never done before so please, if you can help, you have our deepest gratitude and thanks. If you can't, that is ok, too. I understand and thank you for taking the time to read this and hopefully 'share' it.

“No money raised will be used to replace lost belongings. It is just to fix our home so life can return to normal. We are depending on the kindness of strangers.”

To help, go to https://www.gofundme.com/rose-cottage-fire-repair-fund