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A homeless man has praised residents and charity workers who rallied round after his belongings were destroyed in a fire.

John Walsh, known as ‘Johnno’, said he was left “really angry and upset” after his possessions went up in flames outside the former tax office on Eastgate in Accrington.

Firefighters and police were called to the building at around 7.20am on Sunday, February 22 and said the incident is being treated as an ‘accident’.

An online fundraising page was immediately set up to help Johnno replace the items and has so far raised more than £650 with a target of £1,000.

Johnno, 38, was staying with a friend when the fire broke out and has thanked the community and Hyndburn Helpers, based at St James’ Church, to help him get back on his feet.

He said: “The church has been amazing. I got a good meal on Monday and had a good chat and a laugh with the people there. They are genuine people who do it from the heart.

“They have helped me out with a lot of things and given me tinned food, a stove, some clothes and boots which are the best ones I’ve had.”

The online ‘gofundme’ page was set up in response to the blaze and Johnno, who has previously worked at Bootstrap Enterprises and Hyndburn Used Furniture Store, said he was very thankful.

He said: “I just goes to show there are good and genuine people out there with love and I would really like to thank them.”

Ricky Wilson, who set up the fundraising page, said he knew Johnno and as soon as heard about the fire he wanted to do something to help.

He said: “I took to social media and the method of crowd funding to see if we could raise enough money to replace some of the things he had lost.

“The initial target was set at £100, which was smashed within an hour, and this has gradually been increased to £500, which was smashed again. I was kicking myself as I had just got rid of a tent which could have been donated.”

He said the money will be handed to Hyndburn Helpers at the end of the month to buy Johnno new clothes and whatever else he needs, with the rest going to other homeless people in need of food parcels and blankets.

Lisa Canning, of Hyndburn Helpers, said: “We have sorted him out with new sleeping stuff like a tent and a camping stove.

“He was in the church all Tuesday afternoon so we could get him everything he needs.”

Hyndburn MP Graham Jones said he has been ‘overwhelmed’ by the public response.

He said: “It just shows what a special place Hyndburn is and how special the people are.”

To donate visit www.gofundme.com/mys0mw .

Hyndburn Helpers have also issed an appeal for tinned food goods.