Staffordshire family devastated after finding blaze-hit home had no insurance

Civil engineer Mark Dix returned home from his job in Chasetown to find his street in Norton Canes blocked by the emergency services. A police officer at the scene told him the family's semi-detached house had been severely damaged by smoke from the neighbouring property, from a major fire which started accidentally in a caravan which had spread.

It has left the 53-year-old, his wife Ellie and their 26-year-old son homeless and still reeling from last Friday's shocking events.

Mrs Dix, aged 51, a facility manager for Carillion in Wolverhampton, was just leaving work when her husband broke the news over the phone.

"I was just on my way to Asda to get some shopping for the weekend. Mark said not to bother because there was no oven to cook it in. It was hard to take in."

The whole house, except for the front room and one of the bedrooms, was blackened and heat damaged. The couple were coming to terms with their loss when they were then told they had no buildings insurance cover.

The family believed they were covered and are now involved in a legal dispute with their insurance company over the matter.

"That was a major blow. We felt very desolate. We thought we might be able to claim on our neighbours' insurance but we can't because the fire wasn't started maliciously," she said.

Help has come from building maintenance firm Polygon at Burntwood Business Park which has agreed to clean up free of charge .

"The work would have cost £2,000 so we're very grateful. It's the one comfort in what has been a terrible situation. The ceilings have got to come out because the smoke went through to the void, all the walls have to be cleaned, it's such a mess."