Mother in appeal to move on with her life

Jack Sykes, 12, and his nine-year-old brother Paul both died after the devastating blaze was started in the family home by their dad, Darren Sykes, last October.

Their heartbroken mum Claire Throssell has now launched a £70,000 appeal to refurbish the home to a liveable standard so she can sell it and try to move on with her life.

Ms Throssell 43, said the fire was devastating.

It took just six minutes for the family home on Tennyson Close, Penistone, to become engulfed in flames on Wednesday, October 22, 2014.

Darren Sykes, who died in the inferno, had lured his sons up to the attic with a new model train set, barricaded the door so they could not escape and then set fire to the property.

Paul died that night, while Jack died in hospital five days later. The house remains in its fire-hit state as Darren had cancelled the insurance before the blaze.

Father David Hopkin, of Penistone and Thurlstone Team Ministry, said: “The incident shook our community to the core as we tried in vain to understand the enormity of such a tragedy. As well as dealing with her bereavement, it has become clear Claire, on top of everything else, has lost her home.”

Visit www.gofundme.com/qe57bgg.