Fundraising started for '˜distressed' Shankill families who lost homes

A crowdfunding page - which aims to raise £2000 - has already raised £446 in a matter of hours.

The founder of the page Stephen Paul says they are “trying to raise as much money as possible, to help the families who lost their homes and all their belongings in the fire last night”.

“I would really appreciate it if you could help us out in anyway, to get these families back on the feet again.

“It’s times like this that we need to pull together as a community to show are support for these families.

“Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.”

A row of terraced houses caught fire close to one of the huge loyalist bonfires lit in the area to usher in the main date of the parading season.

Two homes adjacent to the Hopewell Square bonfire were gutted when a blaze broke out on the roofs of the terrace at around 1am. At least two other homes were damaged.

It is suspected that hot bonfire embers were blown on to the roofs by the wind.

Ian McLaughlin from the Lower Shankill Community Association said he has been helping the affected families since their homes were destroyed.

“The families are still quite distressed,” he said. “They had been talking part in the festivities at the time it happened.

“This is absolutely terrible how it ended up. We complied very much with the criteria in the bonfire management scheme.

“The Fire Service have already said the bonfire was within the regulations of being 50 metres away from houses.

“It ended up being a pure accident that the embers blew into the roof space of a house, and now we are trying to help the families and do everything we can today with the Housing Executive to try to get the people a house.”

Mr McLaughlin said some of the affected families - eight people have been affected - are going to stay with family - while the Housing Executive will find temporary accommodation for others.

“People are very upset, they can’t even get into the house to get their belongings out,” he added.

“We are hugely sorry for what has happened and we have compiled with all the regulations.”