A mum from Morecambe whose home was left looking like a 'bomb site' says her Christmas has been saved by a 'DIY SOS' style rescue mission.
Sharon Grannell has thanked builder James Kelly for getting her house ready for the festive season at no charge, after she sent out a desperate message for help.
Mum-of-one Sharon's house was riddled with damp and full of rubble and rubbish, forcing her to live upstairs after she had been let down by other tradespeople.
Out of money and at the end of her tether, and desperate not to have a grim Christmas, she posted an appeal online.
"I paid a lot of money for a completed job and was constantly let down. The work is unfinished and I now have damp under the painted plaster crack in ceilings with rubble and rubbish everywhere. I wish I had done my homework because after three months I have had no choice but to take legal action. My house is a mess. Christmas is cancelled and my son and I are having to live upstairs."
Her message prompted kind-hearted builder James to come forward and offer to get her home ready for Christmas.
Mum-of-one Sharon, said: ”I did not have a penny left to do the work and my house was a building site. It was so unsettling and I just didn’t know what was going to happen next.”
Mr Kelly (pictured below), owner of locally-based building firm Quayside at Home, offered to do the work for free after he saw her message online.
He said: "Growing up and watching my single mum struggle on her own she always made Christmas really special for me and my brother. So, It really broke my heart to think of Sharon and her son spending Christmas in that house after spending all that money.
"As a business we always go the extra mile to help our clients and I just thought, you know what, I can make this right. In a world that's so hard, it's so important to ask for help. I'm glad Sharon did and I'm glad I could help save Christmas for her".
Mr Kelly said: ‘’I am enormously grateful to painter & decorator, Claude McMurtrie, electrician, Phillip Greenhalgh and local businesses, Huws & Grey who donated up to £200 of building materials and Simon Ball Manager from Paintwell who donated some of the painting supplies. It's a nice feeling when the community comes together to help one another. "
Sharon said: “We are overwhelmed and it means the world to us. It is like being on the DIY SOS programme!”
Praise for Lancaster and Morecambe youngsters who took part in 'tongue movement' project
Clinic where students offer free legal advice to reopen at Lancaster University
Lines reopen after train derailment on Scotland-London line
Police arrest two and seize illegal bike in Morecambe
ITV commissions sixth series of Morecambe crime drama The Bay
E-bike shop moves from Lancaster to new Carnforth showroom
Lancaster workshop to tackle the issue of drink and needle spiking
Morecambe raw feeds shop up for three 'Animal Star' awards
Two new festivals proposed for Morecambe entertainment venue the Platform
Second day of disruption as work continues after train derails in Cumbria
Morecambe lifeboat crew’s swift response rescues swimmer ‘being swept dangerously out to sea’
'Street Meets' announced to answer your questions amid new wheelie bin roll-out
Campaign group welcomes new "life changing" bus service to Morecambe
Lancaster prison worker jailed for drug offences
Major disruption as train derails on West Coast Main Line
Talks begin for events to mark Eric Morecambe's 100th birthday
Lancaster music venue due to shut will now stay open "well into 2026"
Halloween What's On Guide
LISTEN: Launch of new group in Morecambe to help with gambling addiction
LISTEN: New centre for people with disabilities to open in historic Lancaster location
