JUST weeks after making a heartfelt plea for help with the decorating, single-mum Nikki Randall and her disabled daughter Jade have moved into their bright and clean new home.

Ms Randall, 22, was first featured in the Gazette on June 3, when she told how she had only a fortnight to get a dilapidated housing association home into shape for her daughter to move in.

Faced with limited funds and a shortage of time, she asked for volunteers who could spare a couple of hours to help out and within hours of her plea being published, she was inundated with offers of help and free materials.

Since then, a band of volunteers have been working flat-out on the property in Penn Hill Road, Calne, and on Saturday, Ms Randall and Jade moved into their fabulous new home.

"The place looks amazing so different to what is was like before," said Ms Randall.

"Everyone has been so kind and has worked so hard. They are a lovely bunch of people and being able to move in here with it all clean and decorated means so much to Jade and I."

Ms Randall's daughter Jade developed a catalogue of medical problems after she stopped growing inside the womb at 28 weeks.

Scans showed she was tiny and that her left hand was unformed. But there were further shocks to come.

Born six weeks early and weighing just two pounds and 13 ounces, doctors found she had a chromosome abnormality which had severely affected her physical development.

During eight weeks in newborn intensive care, they also realised Jade's eyes were not properly formed, giving her limited vision.

She now also sleeps with a constant supply of oxygen, as her pharynx (breathing tube) collapses when she drops into a deep sleep.

Her mother explained that it was especially important to get all the woodwork sanded down in the house before Jade moved in, because dust could seriously affect her breathing.

"The work has come together so quickly," she said. "It's just amazing what they've achieved in such a short space of time."

Owned by Westlea Housing Association, Ms Randall's new home is bigger than her previous property, but it had not been decorated for a long time.

"I was really worried about how I would afford it and get all the work done myself," she said.

"So to have all these people helping me out has made all the difference."

Volunteer Karen Missen, 43, from Corsham, told how she had been prompted to help after being deeply moved by Ms Randall's predicament.

"I have three children of my own who thankfully are healthy, but as soon as I read about Nikki I knew I had to help," she said.

"I used to do up houses for a living and have done a lot of decorating, so I haven't minded what I've done to help."

Mother and daughter Carolyn and Emma Hastings, from Chippenham, also got stuck in, helping with the wallpaper stripping as did Sheila Rollett, 65, of Kington St Michael.

Mrs Rollett has two grown-up sons, who have suffered with learning difficulties.

She said: "I know how hard it was for us, but Nikki being on her own and coping with Jade must be so difficult."

Work was overseen by professional decorator Geoff Egan, 59, from Calne.

Other helpers have included Suzanne Johnson, Ian Taylor and Hayley Missen.

While Gillian Key, owner of Key Day Nursery in Calne, where Jade is a pupil, also stepped in to help and paid for the services of another decorator who has wallpapered throughout the house.

Ms Randall also paid tribute to the many businesses which have helped out by donating decorating materials and other gifts.

"CMA Buildbase of Oxford Road, Calne, have come to the rescue with plenty of supplies," she said. "And as it ran out they just kept on bringing it.

"We have also received presents from Expressions of Calne, Sainsbury's, Aladdins Cave, Boots, Melksham Antiques, Trottmans, A1 Glass & Glazing of Swindon and Western Discount Store in Calne.

"The staff of Shamrock Linens in Chippenham have given us a lovely pink quilt and some curtains they'd made especially for Jade's room."

Hills Waste also donated a skip which came in very handy when the team had to get rid of all the old wallpaper and other waste.

"There aren't the words for me to tell all these people how grateful Jade and I are for their help," said Ms Randall.

"I will be keeping in touch with all of them and keeping them updated on Jade's progress. I never imagined when I asked for help that so many people would be so big-hearted."