Firefighters' fund nearly at £1m

The deaths of the men shocked the fire service and community

A fund to help the families of four firemen who died tackling a warehouse blaze has raised nearly £1m.

Ashley Stephens, 20, John Averis, 27, Darren Yates-Badley, 24, and Ian Reid, 44, died as a result of the blaze in Atherstone-on-Stour last November.

The Warwickshire Firefighters Families Fund has reached £923,566 and payments have been made to the families, a spokeswoman for the fire service said.

An open day and a calendar are among further fund-raising events planned.

An investigation by Warwickshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into the incident is continuing.

The Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: "The money raised for the fund has come from all sorts of fund-raising activities including car washes, open days, charity dinners and donations."

An open day at Alcester Fire Station, where two of the firefighters were based, will raise money on 27 September.

A memorial garden will be built at Alcester Fire Station

The day will include a sponsored abseil, face painting and a barbecue.

A "light-hearted" calendar will also raise money for the fund and for the Firefighters Charity, the spokeswoman added.

Shops are being sought to sell the 2009 calendar on behalf of the fund.

The fund set up by the county council will also provide a memorial for the four men.

A second appeal, the Atherstone-on-Stour Firefighters Appeal, organised by Emma Holman-West is also raising money for the four families.

The warehouse was built on land owned by Mrs Holman-West's family and she spent the night of the fire helping with the rescue efforts.

A memorial service will take place on 2 November to mark the anniversary of the fire.