Rotary Club collect funds and donations after Worthing fire

Dave Cook, West Worthing Rotary President, said the office of his car leasing business was further along the block and just escaped the fire damage.

Click here to see drone photos of the fire

He contacted the Tesco at Durrington which agreed to supply the victims of the fire with the emergency clothes and provide the children with school uniforms for the new school year.

Mr Cook said: “The residents had to flee the fire with only the clothes that they were wearing at the time and have lost their homes and almost everything they own.”

He also arranged for a bucket collection at the entrance of the Durrington supermarket, where four or five members of the rotary club were on duty collecting funds all day.

Mr Cook said: “Tesco customers have been unbelievably generous in their donations, some just emptying their purses and pockets into the boxes and others giving large denomination notes.

“One person donated the entire proceeds of his scratch card winnings.”

The Thomas A Becket pub opposite the fire was inundated with donations following the blaze.

Tina Knight, an the emergency response officer for the British Red Cross, was called to the pub with three other volunteers to help co-ordinate the relief effort.

The pub has said they have now received enough donations. Any leftover items are being donated to Worthing Churches Homeless Project.

Rectory Road remains closed and fire officers continue to investigate the cause of the fire.

The station manager has said it is not being treated as suspicious.

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