'Words cannot describe losing our home in Stourbridge wildfire'

A couple say words cannot describe how they feel after their home was destroyed in the Stourbridge wildfire.

Robin and Loxie Williams have lived at the four-bedroom house, on Ounty John Lane, for 26 years and had been out with friends last Thursday when the blaze broke out.

Surveying the wreckage of their home, they told the BBC that on their return that day they found firefighters had closed the road and they were forced to watch their neighbourhood going up in flames on TV.

"Somebody sent us a clip, which we couldn't believe," said Loxie, 78. "When you saw those flames coming out of the top you just couldn't believe it."

Nineteen properties across five streets were fully destroyed in the fires, which broke out in Stourbridge and multiple other areas across the West Midlands, on the hottest day of the year so far.

Another 18 in the town were damaged.

Loxie said virtually all their possessions have been lost and they understand it will take more than two years to rebuild their home.

A teacup, some paperwork and the remains of some clothes left in the kitchen, are among the few items left.

"I got up early that morning because we were going out and I knew it was going to be hot," she explained.

"I did the ironing before I went and there's a mountain of [burnt] clothes."

Robin, aged 82, worked as a butcher in Oldbury for 68 years.

He retired in 2024 and said on the day of the fire they had enjoyed "a lovely day out with some friends".

But when they returned to see the fire raging, he said: "It was so quick."

While the couple are full of praise for the firefighters who tried to save their home, they recognise they were "fighting a losing battle".

In the end the crews had to give up and divert their attention to protecting neighbouring properties, Loxie said.

The couple, who have been married for 59 years, returned to their house for the first time on Sunday, escorted by the fire service.

A cordon remains in place around properties in the area.

They found their garden, which had been Robin's project, was also devastated, while neighbouring properties had been saved.

Trying to sum up how they both feel about the ordeal they have been through, Loxie said: "Words can't describe it."

The wildfires in Stourbridge broke out just before 13:30 BST last Thursday.

West Midlands Fire Service said it was alerted to a large grass fire near Stourbridge Golf Club in the Racecourse Lane area.

• What we know so far about the West Midlands fires

• Multiple fires destroy homes and cause devastation

• Farmers praised as heroes for work to stop Stourbridge fire

More than 100 firefighters fought to tackle the flames as they spread over more than 500 acres and destroyed and damaged homes, forcing residents to evacuate.

The Williams were both born in Birmingham and have lived in the West Midlands all their lives.

With nowhere else to go, they were taken to Stourbridge Town Hall afterwards and given support by volunteers.

Loxie said: "I couldn't believe how people gave up their time to go and care for people."

She also said the firefighters had been "just so caring".

Only two houses on Ounty John Lane were completely destroyed, but others had suffered some fire damage.

Loxie said: "They worked extremely hard to try and put this out."

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