More than £16,000 has been raised to help a family pay bills following a car crash.

Scott Mantle from Bridgnorth was a passenger in a car along with his two children when the crash happened on 21 February.

His fiancee Emma said when she received the “devastating call” to tell her they had been taken to hospital, the initial uncertainty about the extent of their injuries had been “heartbreaking”.

Both her partner and one of the children are continuing to receive treatment, although the latter is now at home, with Emma saying the family had been “absolutely blown away” by people’s support.

The online fundraising page was set up by friend Kirsty Haywood to support the family while Mr Mantle, a self-employed tiler, was unable to work.

According to the page, he has no income until he recovers.

His fiancee, who is studying part time while working part time as a nurse, said the sum collected so far had been “astronomical”, adding: “We thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts.”

Ms Haywood said the mortgage and household bills had been “weighing down heavily” on the family while they should be focused on recovery.

Andy Giddings
BBC News, West Midlands

BBC Shropshire