MOTHER-of-three Naseem Dix has praised the Journal for helping her find the keys to the best Christmas present ever - a home for her family.

Mrs Dix thought that she and her children, Richard (15), Thomas (four) and Rebekah (two), were going to be left out in the cold this winter because of scrooges at the department for work and pensions.

But within hours of her plight being featured in last week's Journal, the department reconsidered her case and ruled that she was eligible for benefits.

On Monday, Mrs Dix and her family moved into a three-bedroom flat in Milford Street after spending a nightmare six weeks sharing a single hotel room.

She said: "I was flabbergasted but absolutely delighted. It was all thanks to the Journal.

"The department refused to help us for six weeks but, on the day the story came out, they changed their decision and said there was a giro waiting for me.

"I am very grateful to everyone else who has helped, especially social services and Salisbury District Council."

Mrs Dix (37) and her three children had left South Africa in October due to increasing insecurity in the area where they were living.

In the space of a month, their home was burgled three times and a neighbour was murdered.

Despite being a British citizen and having lived in England for 32 years, Mrs Dix was originally refused any help.