A family left homeless by a lightning strike say they been overwhelmed by the enormous response to their plight from Daily Echo readers.

After the freak bolt gutted their home in Guest Road, Upton, the Days appealed in the Echo for help to furnish their temporary house in Hamworthy.

Over the weekend, father Peter Day received an incredible 500 calls from big-hearted readers willing to donate everything from kettles to clothes to the stricken family.

"I just wish I could thank everyone individually but it would be impossible, so I just wanted to express my gratitude to everybody who has called," said Peter, a production manager.

"My mobile didn't stop ringing from 7am to 9.30pm every day.

"Everyone has been fantastic and something like this makes you feel very humble - it's changed our outlook on people.

"One woman, a single mother, rang and said she didn't have a lot but wanted to do what she could."

Peter had to hire a van to drive around and pick up the generous donations, including two televisions, a DVD player, cutlery and clothes for their three daughters, Jodie, 16, Shannon, 12 and Megan, 9.

Blacks camping shop in Bournemouth even called to donate a set of blow-up beds for the family.

Upton Junior School held a non-uniform day on Friday and raised £280 for the Days and neighbour Tina Dennis, caretaker at the school, whose house was also damaged by the lightning strike.