Readers to rescue

The Gazette reported last week how Ms Randall, 22, has just two weeks to turn her new housing association property in Penn Hill Road, Calne, into a comfortable home.

Within hours of the paper going on sale, calls offering help and materials, flooded in and yesterday the work started in earnest thanks to the first round of volunteers.

"I just can't believe how many people have just offered to help me," said a clearly emotional Ms Randall. "I'm absolutely overwhelmed.

"They're all so laid-back and friendly and are just giving up their time to make sure Jade and I are comfortable there aren't words to say how grateful I am."

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

Scans showed she was tiny and that her left hand was also 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.

Just five months after Jade was born, Nicky's partner Jade's father, left. He has had no contact with his daughter since.

Ms Randall said the race is now on to get the house as close to finished as possible before she moves in, because decorating dust could cause serious problems to Jade's health.

The Penn Hill Road house is owned by Westlea Housing Association and although she is very grateful for the property, Ms Randall explained that there is a lot of work to do to get it ship-shape.

"The new house is bigger than our previous one and has more room for Jade's medical equipment, but it has not been decorated for a long time and I was really worried about how I would afford it and get all the work done myself.

"To have all these people helping me out makes all the difference."

Volunteer Karen Missen, 43, from Corsham, told how she had been deeply moved by Nicky's predicament.

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

"I used to do up houses for a living and have done a lot of decorating but I don't mind what I do to help anything that gets the house looking smart."

Mother and daughter Carolyn and Emma Hastings from Chippenham, were also preparing to get stuck in.

"Emma read the story about Nicky and Jade in the Gazette and it moved her to tears," said Mrs Hastings, 35. "We both love painting and although the house needs a lot of work, it has real potential."

Sheila Rollett, 65, of Kington St Michael, has two grown-up sons, who have suffered with learning difficulties. "I know how hard it was for us, but Nicky being on her own and coping with Jade must be so difficult," she said. "I've done a lot of decorating in my time and I know we'll all be doing our best to get it looking nice for two weeks' time."

Dawn-Marie Egan, 22, from Calne, went to school with Ms Randall, but lost touch with her friend until she saw her story in the Gazette.

"I never knew Nicky had Jade, but I have met her now and she's lovely," she said. "I don't have a lot of decorating experience, but I'm glad to help."

The only professional decorator and male in the team of volunteers is Geoff Egan, 59, from Calne.

He has recently moved to the town and is in the process of setting up his own decorating firm Home Dcor.

He said: "I'm the token male and it's been suggested I take on the role of foreman to make sure everything's organised. I don't mind that at all I want to make sure Nicky and Jade get a good job done and I can think of worse things than being surrounded by lots of lovely ladies."

CMA Buildbase of Oxford Road, Calne, have come to the rescue with plenty of supplies.

Assistant manager Steve Twine, 48, said: "We read about Nicky and Jade in the Gazette and wanted to help, so we're providing lots of paint, lining paper, rollers and brushes for free.''