A plea for furniture and clothes has been made by a Catholic priest to help a Wolverhampton family who have lost everything in an horrific flat fire – as a seven-year-old girl was today still fighting for her life.

The youngster, believed to be Polish, is still in a critical condition at Birmingham Children’s Hospital where she was undergoing surgery. She suffered 80 per cent burns in the inferno at her home in The Lindens, off Newbridge Crescent, which investigators believe may have been started by an electric fire or storage heater. 

Father Edward Pondel yesterday appealed to people attending the Polish Catholic Church of the Holy Trinity, Oxley, to support the family and donate clothing and furniture. 

The girl is believed to be a pupil at St Michael’s CE Primary School, Lower Street, Tettenhall. 

Councillor Christine Irvine, Wolverhampton’s education chief, said today: “The only thing that can be said at this terrible time is that our thoughts and prayers are with her and her family. It is an absolutely tragic event.”

The youngster’s aunt, who suffered 45 per cent burns after rescuing the child and her and four-year-old brother from the bedroom, remains in a serious condition in Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham.

Neighbours in the quiet cul-de-sac are still in shock over the traumatic events of Friday night. 

One today pushed a card near to the door of the charred flat offering her help. The neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “Nobody really knew a lot about them but it is awful and so I have put my telephone number on a card so she can call me if she needs anything.”

Two large plastic carriers containing the charred remains of the children’s toys, including a plastic giraffe, a toy lorry and a Lucy Lamb reading book, remain on the communal lawn in front of the three-storey block.

Resident Patricia Bannister said: “Everyone is very upset. The children didn’t play out much but whenever they saw my grandchildren outside they would go out and join them. The little girl is such a pretty child with long blonde hair.”

She said that the family had lived in the property for less than a year.