A disabled couple who lost everything when a removal van carrying their possessions erupted in flames are being showered with money and gifts.

Blind Bernice Houghton and partially-sighted husband Dennis dreamed of moving to Eastbourne after visiting for 20 years.

But their move from London turned into a nightmare when the lorry carrying all their belongings caught fire on the A23 last Friday.

Since then the people of Eastbourne have rallied around the couple who are staying at the Palm Court Hotel and removal firm Edwins, of Willingdon Road, Eastbourne, has already handed over an insurance cheque for £15,000.

Mrs Houghton, 60, said: "A gentleman even brought in a talking alarm clock to replace the one we've lost. It's very good of people to have sorted this insurance out so quickly. People have been so kind. I wouldn't have known what to have done without them. Where we used to live in London we would never have got support like this."

Loss adjusters Cunningham and Lindsey Marine sifted through the charred remains of the Houghton's possessions on Wednesday and a cheque was raised by Axa Insurance within 24 hours.

There have been anonymous donations and yesterday a cheque arrived from London firefighters. The Houghtons are now waiting for furniture to be bought so they can move in to their new home in Archery Court.

Mr Houghton said: "Everything has to be arranged there so we can feel our way around it. The money will never be able to replace what we've lost but it's a start. I just can't believe how nice everyone's been, we'd like to say thank you to them all."

Specialised equipment including an electric wheelchair and a CD player for the blind were lost in the fire, thought to have been started by an electrical fault.

Sue Hines, of the Palm Court Hotel, said: "We're going to get the flat lovely for them."