Kind-hearted locals are going the extra mile to help families whose homes were destroyed in a fire.

As previously reported by the Evening Times, a 49-year-old woman, named locally as Jill MacMillan, was found dead after the blaze tore through a block of flats in Paisley on Monday afternoon.

One neighbour is understood to have gone in to try to rescue the woman from the house on Fairway Avenue but was unable to reach her.

Fire crews battled for more than 17 hours to put out the flames, evacuate residents and check the fire had been fully extinguished.

The fire took hold of the ground floor flat in the town's Glenburn area around 4.05pm, before spreading to the upper floors.

Three casualties were treated by paramedics at the scene, and one person was taken to hospital.

Now residents have set up collection points for those whose homes were destroyed or possessions damaged beyond repair by the flames.

They have also set up an online fundraising page, and have raised their target of £600 in less than 24 hours.

The page reads: "Following the tragic house fire on the 20th June 2016 in Fairway Avenue, Glenburn this page has been set up to help raise money for the people affected, to help them get back on their feet.

"Please give anything you can as this fire has destroyed most if not all of these peoples belongings.

"Thank you so much for your donations, once the target has been reached the money will be passed to the families in the close."

A drop-off point has been set up at Pockets Pool & Snooker Club for people who have spare clothes or household items to donate to those affected.

Police and the Scottish Fire and Rescue service have launched a joint probe into the cause of the fire and have appealed for help from the public.

Detective Sergeant Ian Ross from Paisley Police Office said: "Our enquiries are at an early stage to gather more information on this fire, and a joint investigation will be carried out with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to establish the cause of the fire.

"At this time, I would ask anyone with information that may assist our investigation to contact Paisley Police Office through the 101 number."