A pensioner who lost his partner on Christmas Eve after a devastating house fire has thanked the "heroes" who helped to renovate his home.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to Linby Avenue in Mansfield at about 5pm on December 23 following reports of the blaze.
Barrie Green, 76, and partner of 37 years Vera Brewer, 73, were taken to King's Mill Hospital for treatment but Vera died the following morning.
In the weeks following the blaze Mr Green contacted a number of local tradesmen to get new windows and doors fitted, with police guarding the house until it was safe to enter.
In total he lost around 80 percent of his possessions and had to be placed into a bedsit for months.
During this time Mr Green says he was "mentally devoid", but knew in January he needed to get the ball rolling to repair his home.
"The whole situation was traumatic, you couldn't have spoken to me for weeks after it happened", he told Nottinghamshire Live.
"I was totally numb, I couldn't speak or think. It was a horrific experience.
"In hospital I was watching Vera fighting for every single breath after the fire. After she died, I was mentally devoid.
"But I knew I needed to get new windows and doors, the police were standing outside the house and it needed to be made secure.
"I called around and got a quote of eight weeks and I knew that was too long, and by fate I came across Austyn."
Mr Green called Austyn Mcilvenna, a windows and doors specialist who runs Mansfield firm Secure-A-Home.
After learning about Mr Green's plight, the trader not only provided him with this work but rallied to get the entire house renovated.
Mr Mcilvenna said he knew he had to help after receiving a phone call from the pensioner "in tears" in the wake of the fire.
"He called up in tears asking for the quote, but because of the story behind it we knew we had to do more. It was heartbreaking when I met him", he told Nottinghamshire Live.
"I discovered there was a whole lot more that needed doing with the house, on top of the windows and doors.
"He's had a full rewire, the whole downstairs has been re-plastered, there's a brand new kitchen, and we've made sure his gas is safe and working.
"It was a large restoration because of extremely bad smoke damage.
"We had a massive rush to get it liveable, because we didn't want him in the bedsit as he was shielding at that time.
"When we revealed it to him properly he was overcome with emotions. He is an amazing person who deserves all the help."
Following the restoration, which is almost complete, the pensioner says he "cannot put into words" the thanks he has for the people who helped him.
"Austyn calls himself a builder, but he's actually a saint in disguise", he added.
"Thank you is not just saying it, for me I need something stronger than thank you because I cannot put it into words.
"It's not just him, it's all the people who came up here night after day, 90 percent who have never met me, all to do this wonderful thing. They are all heroes.
"I know I have Austyn with me for life, I won't lose that man now and I honestly hope I can find a way to thank him for what he's done."
