Family left devastated by blaze
A GLASGOW family have been left devastated after losing £25,000 worth of possessions in a fire.
Mum June Watson believes it will take years to recoup what they lost, which included furniture, passports and holiday money.
The blaze, in Tollcross Park Gardens, is believed to have been started by a ‘cannabis farm’.
A GLASGOW family whose home was destroyed in a fire have said it will take years to recoup what they have lost.
June Watson left her home in Tollcross Park Gardens to go shopping and returned to charred remains following the blaze on June 29.
The 46-year-old deli worker, her husband and 19-year-old son Kyle, have lost an estimated £25,000 worth of possessions including furniture, passports and holiday money in the Lowther Homesowned flat.
A man has been arrested and charged in connection with the blaze, thought to have been started by a cannabis farm.
Now the family are facing the possibility of having to move into a new home without any belongings.
June explained: “I had left the house at 5.40pm to go to Glasgow Fort and my husband was on the back shift so no one was in the flat at the time.
“The first I knew about the fire was when someone I know from work got in touch with me and by then the damage had been done. I couldn’t believe it.
“We didn’t have a chance to take anything so I’ve only got the leggings and top I was wearing when I left the flat.
“We only moved in four months ago, but I had bought a new furniture suite, beds and a TV, which we’re still paying for and my boy’s holiday money and passport is gone.”
June added: “We worked hard to pay for everything in the flat. We didn’t cause the fire but we feel like we’re being punished.
“We’re working to try and get some money to get back on our feet.
“My husband starts work at 4am and then goes on backshift straight after but what happens if he can’t get to work?”
The family were put up in the Busby Hotel in Clarkston on Saturday evening but have been told they will be moved into a new home in August.
Until the house is available, they have had to move in with relatives.
A crowdfunding page has been launched to help the family, with a target of £1,000. For other residents of Tollcross Park Gardens, the future of the building is unknown.
Karen Durnian, managing director of Lowther Homes, said: “We are doing all we can over the past week to support the family through what is a difficult time.
“We’re delighted they have accepted an offer of one of our brand new mid-market homes which will be ready for them in August.
“We arranged a hotel for them and have been talking to them daily, offering any flats we have available and supporting them to look for alternatives.
“They’ve now told us they have found a suitable place to stay and we’ll continue to support them there until they get the keys to their new home.
“We’ll also help them with new f urniture through Wheatley’s Home Comforts scheme.”
We didn’t have a chance to take anything