A WOMAN and a couple are facing the heartbreak of Christmas away from her homes, following a sudden fire which seriously damaged their homes in a quiet residential street.

A couple, who do not want to be named, and Ange Gregory are now preparing for Christmas elsewhere.

Mrs Gregory said she was only aware her house was on fire when she caught a train to Hereford and was phoned by her sister, while still travelling.

Mrs Gregory said: "It's a bit of a nightmare. On the way to the fire station I had heard the fire engines. You don't for a minute think it's you."

"I just broke down, It completely floored me, and I was freaking out on the train, when my sister told me, - your house is on fire."

A friend drove Mrs Gregory straight back from Hereford, but flames had damaged the roof and heat so intense it had melted the boiler.

Mrs Gregory said: "Afterwards, I just sat in my house, crying. I just want to be back home for Christmas."

But Mrs Gregory, who is a tenant of the housing association, Fortis Living, had no choice but to accept the emergency accommodation she was offered by Fortis, at Harling Court.

Fortis say it will not be possible for her to move back home for Christmas.

Mrs Gregory said: "I'm just gutted. My Christmas tree was up, but now I'm not allowed to be in my own home at Christmas."

The blaze took hold of number 5 and number 7 at Oatleys Terrace between 9am and 10am on Wednesday, December 14.

The couple at number 5 are currently staying with relatives.

Mrs Gregory, expressing sympathy for her neighbours, said: "I would say that next door is ten times worse than me."

The community has been rallying round, including a visit to Mrs Gregory from the mayor, Cllr Debbie Baker.

And Mel Yates, the store manager at Tesco's in Ledbury, called Mrs Gregory with a touching offer.

Mrs Gregory said: "He told me to get a trolley and to fill it up with anything I needed, and he said, that's on us."

Clare Jackson, executive director with Fortis Living for housing, said:“We sympathise with Mrs Gregory and are doing everything we can to help her at this difficult time by finding her alternative accommodation and keeping her up to date with developments as they happen.

"The safety of our tenants is always our priority and the outcome of our assessment of the situation is the property should remain empty until it is safe and has been repaired.” She added: "Our maintenance team, Fortis Property Care visited the property on Saturday December 17 to carry out the repairs to the boiler and the flue and found further issues with the roof meaning the repairs could not be carried out.

"Reinstatement of the roof and all repairs are now in the hands of insurers. In light of this, it will not be possible for Mrs Gregory to return to her property before Christmas."

Firefighters from around the region dealt with the blaze.

Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said the local fire engine from Ledbury was unavailable on the morning due to a shortage in availability of on-call firefighters when the call was received.

A spokesman added: "Unfortunately, this led to a slight delay in the first fire engine attending the scene."

The delay, in fact, was 18 minutes, according to the fire service.

But the spokesman added: "Crews from Malvern, Ross, Hereford and Newent attended, quickly bringing the incident under control using breathing apparatus and compressed air foam jets."