TWO weeks after losing their Castle Combe home and two pet puppies in a ferocious fire, Hilary Baker and Mac Turner have at last been given the go-ahead to sift through their charred belongings.

Standing in the burned-out shell of their 17th century bed and breakfast, Mr Turner explained that they have lost practically everything and now face at least a year of hard work and determination to rebuild their 'dream' home.

"It's been an awful two weeks since the fire," he said.

"There is so much paperwork to sort out. Neither of us are sleeping properly I am even on medication to try and help me sleep, but it's like being in a nightmare."

Mr Turner and Ms Baker had hoped to have rented accommodation elsewhere in the village by now, but the insurance company dealings are proving so long and drawn out that they are still having to stay with friends. "Of course, it's wonderful of them to put us up and everyone has been so kind, but the last two weeks have been so horrific, with the loss of our home and our puppies, we just want to have somewhere together, so we can prepare for the months ahead," Mr Turner said.

"Unfortunately, sorting out insurance takes so long, we're just having to take things day by day."

Fire broke out in the couple's cottage in the centre of the village at around 7pm on February 26, while they were visiting friends just a few doors away.

The ferocity of the fire was such that nine fire crews took turns to fight it, but the crews could not reach the couple's two Jack Russell puppies, Kickstart and Cam, and the dogs died from smoke inhalation.

In addition to the extensive damage caused by the fire, the sheer weight of water which was pumped onto the roof has now made the ceilings unsafe.

"It's terrible to stand in amongst it and think that I've lost almost everything from 47 years of my life," said Ms Baker.

"And more than anything to know that we won't see our puppies again.

"We went to Bath in the week and a Big Issue seller stopped us and told us he was homeless. Ten minutes later we realised that we are, too."

The couple say that most of their possessions are ruined beyond repair.

"There was a painting on my living room wall, painted by my mother, shortly before her sight failed," said Ms Baker.

"It was a view of the village from our home and was very precious to me, but now it is just a charred frame hanging on the wall it is heartbreaking."

Mr Turner added: "There are some items that are salvageable, but practical things really, like some crockery.

"We have lost so much, that meant so much to us our whole lives were in that house."

The couple hopes to have organised their rented accommodation in the village by the end of this week and also to have some news from their insurers on when work can begin on rebuilding the house.

"English Heritage has also been in touch and has offered its help in advising on finding the right materials and the like," said Mr Turner.

"It's going to be such a huge job, but we just want to get started."

The fire is believed to have been caused by a power surge which ignited a socket in the living room of the cottage and quickly spread up through a cavity wall into the roof of the building, where it ignited the timbers beneath the heavy roof slates. Fire crews using breathing apparatus and special ladders battled to douse the flames.

The couple said they'd been left speechless by the kindness and generosity of friends and neighbours since the fire, which was the village's worst for more than 40 years.

dwaite@newswilts.co.uk