A WIRRAL family whose home was badly damaged by fire has praised the community and an estate agents for coming to their aid.

Tony and Susan Noonan were left counting the cost of the damage, said to be as much as £35,000, after the fire at their home in Liscard Road, Wallasey on December 9.

It is believed to have been caused by faulty Christmas tree lights.

The desperate family was rehoused in time for the festive season after getting in touch with staff from Andrew's Estates in Wallasey, who managed to get them a property in Gorsey Lane.

Wirral Globe:

An area of the Noonan's house after the fire

Susan, 55, a clinical support worker at Arrowe Park Hospital, frantically tried to put the fire out by beat the flames down with a cushion before running outside and screaming for help.

A passer-by phoned the fire brigade.

Neighbours rushed to their aid, even looking after their pet cats, Sooty and Sweep.

It could be six months before the family can return home.

Rooms need re-plastering, furniture is damaged, ceilings and windows require replacing and sentimental items like craft work and memorabilia were destroyed in the blaze.

Susan told the Globe: "It's been a traumatic time and the house is in an horrendous state.

"It's been like living through a nightmare.

"We spent two weeks living at my sister’s house. She was amazing."

Wirral Globe:

An area of the Noonan's house after the fire

The mum-of-two continued: "You don’t realise how many friends you do have until there's a crisis.

"The neighbours have been fantastic and our church friends have been brilliant.

"Kyle and Alison from Andrew's Estate agents were brilliant."

Among neighbours who came to the family’s aid was Shirley Evans, who looked after Sooty and Sweep.

Praising her, Susan said: "She was absolutely fantastic with the cats, sitting up with them all night, giving them water.

"We hardly knew each other before, but now we have become best of friends."

John Beckett, operations manager at Andrews Estates, told the Globe: "Estate Agents don't generally have the best of reputations, but for me an instance like this demonstrates that we can have a positive impact within our communities with just a bit of effort.

"It's nice to work in an environment where your colleagues are equally determined to go the extra mile for people, in particular Kyle and Alison in the Wallasey branch really pushed out the boats."