Ipswich house fire: Family receive community donations

Ipswich Private Kindergarten, on Woodbridge Road, had asked for members of the public to offer a range of items to support the victims of the Spring Road fire.

One of the family's children attends the nursery and is believed to have been attending a Christmas party there when the house caught fire. 

The house fire happened on Friday at 4pm (Image: William Warnes, Newsquest)

"We wanted to raise some bits just to see them through the next few weeks," said Hannah Brinsmead, a room leader at the kindergarten.

"We asked for anything and everything.

"We received toys, toiletries, vouchers, clothes and even money.

"We were absolutely overwhelmed and inundated. 

"In the end, we had to ask people to stop because we didn't want to flood the family with things."

The kindergarten had to stop asking for donations due to the amount of items they received (Image: Contributed)

Firefighters were called to a property in Spring Road, near the roundabout with Woodbridge Road and Woodbridge Road East, at about 4pm on Friday.

A total of six Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service engines and one ambulance were dispatched to the scene of the blaze.

On Tuesday, a spokesman for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service has now confirmed the fire was started by an electrical consumer unit inside the home.

The property is understood to have been occupied by a family who has now been moved to temporary accommodation.

"We're hoping to put together some Christmas presents for the children," said Hannah.

The kindergarten team delivered the items on Tuesday (Image: Contributed)

"To be honest, it's just lovely to see so many people come forward and be so generous.

"Thanks so much to everyone who reached out to help the family at their time of need.

"The family are incredibly grateful."

The kindergarten team dropped off the donations on Tuesday. 

The kindergarten will be giving the parents and children Christmas presents (Image: Contributed)

Despite the preschool's decision to stop accepting gift donations, cash donations will still be gratefully accepted.

The team will be collecting in the office until 6pm on Thursday, December 22 to ensure "they can get all of the items and money to them before the Christmas break".