PRAYERS are being said across Wyre Forest and beyond for a young Kidderminster mother who was rushed to hospital after being rescued from a major house fire.

Vicky Lavelle, 23, remains in a critical condition in intensive care in Birmingham's Selly Oak Hospital following the blaze at her home in Usmere Road on Friday, August 23.

Her three-year-old son Anthony, who was rescued by neighbours as Miss Lavelle - drifting into unconsciousness - held him out of an upstairs window, is improving after suffering burns to his legs.

Miss Lavelle's grandfather Philip Motteram, 70, of Borrington Road, said he and his wife Pat were members of the Catholic church, and hundreds of Christians of all denominations in the district and the West Midlands had been praying for her to make a full recovery.

She had suffered burns and smoke inhalation in the fire, which is thought to have started accidentally.

Mr Motteram said: "So many people that we know who belong to different churches have been praying constantly.

"We believe in the healing power of prayer and the community as a whole is praying. It involves the police, the fire service and everyone who has been asking about her.

"We want to thank all the people who have supported us and ask them to continue storming heaven with their prayers."

Miss Lavelle's mother Julie, of Grasmere Close, singled out hospital staff for praise and said Anthony's father, Mark Smith, had been "absolutely brilliant".