A COMMUNITY has rallied round families hit by a devastating fire.

The blaze broke out at a block of flats in Cloan Avenue, Drumchapel, at around 6.45pm on Thursday.

A total of 30 firefighters were in attendance at the height of the blaze and 20 residents were evacuated.

Kind-hearted local people immediately began helping those affected by the fire, which broke through the roof of the two-storey building.

Dozens of items - including furniture, clothes and toys - have been donated as residents offer support.

It is understood one of the families affected is a young couple with two young children.

Michelle O'Connell, 36, was first alerted to the blaze when someone messaged her about it on the Facebook page Drumchapel Life So Far.

Michelle, who is from Drumchapel, said: "I started getting all these notifications and I realised there was a fire in Cloan Avenue.

"I saw from the pictures that it was serious so I asked the Facebook members to help out any way they could.

"The response has been overwhelming. These families have left their homes with nothing but the clothes on their back and the scheme has offered them all the clothes they can."

Michelle received help from well-known local undertaker Alex Black. The response was so huge that GHA began helping to coordinate the items being donated.

Michelle added: "I just wanted to give them a bit of a hand and offer support."

A total of 10 families have been placed in temporary accommodation.

GHA’s North West Area Director Jackie Morris said: “We are doing everything we can to help the residents whose homes have been damaged and to support them through this difficult time.

“We’ve been collecting household items such as furniture and white goods, and buying bedding and food packs, to make sure the people affected have what they need for moving into temporary accommodation.

“The response from the community has been fantastic and we’ve been working with other groups in the area to co-ordinate that response.

“People have really rallied round their neighbours and we’ve already had many donations including cots, toiletries and clothes."

The damage to the building and the flats was being assessed yesterday.

Anyone with donations can call 0800 4797979

An investigation is underway into the cause of the fire.