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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Abbie Meehan

West Lothian locals smash funding target for fire victims as community rallies with donations

The community of Craigshill in Livingston, West Lothian, have went above and beyond to help out those thrown out of their homes due to the fire, by donating thousands of pounds and various other products.

In a support rally started by The Tower Bar in Craigshill, hundreds of food products, clothes, shoes and toiletries have been delivered in little over three hours since the call for help first went out.

Landlady of the bar, Fiona Macleod, 40, has hailed the community for coming together and helping those in need of essentials after the blaze kicked them from their homes.

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Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Fiona said: "The community is just amazing! In just 3 hours we got all of these things, once we have sorted through all this we will let everyone know what's still needed if anything!

"We ask people to please don’t bring anything else today, except cash donations or vouchers, just until we get through all of this mountain.

"The response has been incredible & so lovely to see the community pulling together to help each other out."

In the photos, mountains of clothes, shoes, food, and various other essential items can be seen, all donated by those local to the fire.

Local residents have not been shy in their generous offers. (Submitted)
Shoes, clothes and other items line the floor. (Submitted)

Even larger items such as bed frames and sleeping bags can be seen, all gifted by generous residents looking to help out.

As well as this, the JustGiving page that The Tower Bar has set up just surpassed £3,500, and does not seem to be slowing down any time soon.

In a post about the JustGiving page, the bar wrote: "Thank you all so much for all of the amazingly generous donations of food and clothes and bedding etc, so far.

The amount of donations just keep flying in. (Submitted)
The sheer quantity is incredible. (Submitted)

"Its an absolute mountain already and we cant take any more at the moment, please keep what u have if possible until we have sorted through all of this and then we will see what's still needed.

"You can still donate to the just giving page and there is a collection tin in the bar also, thank you so much everyone."

The donations even go out the door! (Submitted)
Clothes piled up on top of bags of donation. (Submitted)

Earlier today, Edinburgh Live reported that the roads surrounding a street in West Lothian remains closed today following a ferocious fire that burned into the early hours of this morning.

Melbourne Street and Craigshill Road remained closed today as police carry out further investigations into the cause of the fire, after a 26-year-old man was arrested in connection with the incident.

Emergency crews raced to the scene last night and up to 15 fire engines have been tackling the fire overnight.

Fortunately, it seems at this early stage that only one person was treated for smoke inhalation, but officers have told Edinburgh Live that local residents have been decanted from their homes for their safety.

You can donate to the JustGiving page here.

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