SINGER Toyah Wilcox is understood to have offered a temporary home to pensioners after their thatched cottage was hit by fire.

Residents of Ivy Cottage, a semi-detached thatched cottage, next to the Anchor Inn pub on Main Road, Wyre Piddle, were at home when the blaze broke out last Thursday.

Keith and Eileen Attwood who are in their late 60s and neighbour Pete Bond, who is in his 70s, escaped unhurt.

Luckily for the three, neighbours formed a human chain to save their belongings from the flames.

Evesham and Pershore fire crews attended the blaze which broke out at 9.10am. It took officers until 1pm to put it out.

David Bagnall, of Church Street, Wyre Piddle, watched as the blaze spread into the cottage.

The 59-year-old said: "They thought the fire was getting under control but the wind had picked it up and made it worse.

"The road was completely blocked off. Cars had to drive around on the bypass."

Evesham sub-officer Julian Jenkins believed the fire was caused by a break in the chimney lining.

Mr Bagnall said he believed Keith and Eileen Attwood have been staying at Toyah Wilcox's cottage in the Vale since last Friday.

Toyah Wilcox could not be contacted as the Journal went to press.