FIREFIGHTERS have thanked villagers who helped them while they tackled a blaze which tore through the home of a mother and her five children.

Villagers in Appleton rushed to help 70 firefighters who were called to deal with the fire during freezing weather in January.

Armed with shovels, the villagers cleared the area of ice and snow and opened the village hall as a refuge for the firefighters to allow them to eat and drink while they extinguished flames which raged through the night.

Most of the house, which dates back to the 1300s, was destroyed, but the woman and her children escaped unharmed.

David Etheridge, Oxfordshire County Council’s deputy chief fire officer, presented villagers with a framed letter of thanks and a brigade plaque on Thursday.

He said: “We knew as soon as we saw the fire it was going to be a challenging night.

“The journey into the village was tough and, because of the snow, it took some time to find the nearest fire hydrant.

“The opening of the village hall was a very thoughtful gesture and the crews were grateful to have the chance to recover.

“The refreshments were well received, as was the opportunity to re-gather energy to tackle the fire.

“The Appleton community spirit is something we do not come across too often and we are delighted to present a framed letter of thanks and our brigade plaque as a record of our sincere thanks.”

The fire, which is thought to have started accidentally, broke out at about 8.30pm on Tuesday, January 5.

Residents opened the village hall at 10pm to provide somewhere warm for the firefighters to rest out of the snow.

A team of 10 volunteers from the Appleton Community Shop provided refreshments and hot drinks for the crews.

Shop director Carol Bateman said: “As soon as we heard what was happening, everyone mobilised very quickly, dashing around to find fire hydrants.

“It was instinct, we just wanted to help the family. We raided the shop’s shelves and opened the village hall.

“At the hall we had to keep mopping the water caused by the snow from the firemen’s boots.

“It’s very kind of the fire service to present the award, but I think thanks have to go to the firefighters, who did such a great job.”

bellery@oxfordmail.co.uk