THE Ellacombe Fire Fund has broken through the £4,000 barrier.

And as well as generous donations, offers of practical help for the Wojak family are continuing to flood in. Among the major donations which took the total up to £4,400, was £500 from the Riviera Life Church in Babbacombe Road, Torquay.

Michael Wojak served in the Devon and Dorset Regiment including in Northern Ireland. The regimental association and the Royal British Legion are coordinating the support for the family, with donations from the Army Benevolent Fund and the prospect of a family break from Holidays 4 Heroes. Holidays 4 Heroes has already donated £200 worth of clothing vouchers.

Major Don Jellard, who runs the Devonshire and Dorset Regimental Association at The Rifles' Exeter office in Wyvern Barracks, said they were delighted with the response to the Herald Express fund.

Businesses and individuals offering household items, which have included dining tables, towels, bed linen, television and video recorder, are being contacted, he said.

"We have set up a fund and the family are drawing from it. We have for example given them food vouchers."

But he said until Riviera Housing had found the family a suitable house, they were asking donors to hang on to their items. They will be contacted when it is known exactly what the family, currently staying with friends, need.

"Until we know the size and shape of their new house we would be concerned about abusing people's charity by accepting items we might not need," said Major Jellard.