A WOMAN who saved her grandchildren by making them breathe fresh air through a letterbox during a fire which gutted her home is set to move back in - after the community pulled together to raise cash for the house's refurbishment.

Julie Garforth, 57, was hailed as a hero following the blaze on Barnsley Road, Cudworth, on February 8, but spent seven weeks in an induced coma after suffering severe smoke inhalation.

Her grandchildren Ruby and Cohen Phillis, aged six and five, were only kept in hospital overnight as a precaution and allowed home the next day because Julie made the youngsters breathe cleaner air through the letterbox until fire crews rescued them.

The trio had been trapped in the house as Julie had been unable to find a key to open the front door and flames blocked the back door. Her daughter Sian Phillis, of Acorn Way, Grimethorpe, set up a Go Fund Me page with her sister, Gemma Harper-Travis, to help pay for repairs to her mum's house and £3,845 was raised.

"She saved my kids' lives and really is a true hero," Sian added. "Her home basically needed to be built back up again but she should be back in at the end of August.

"Luckily she had home insurance so most was covered, but it needed a new roof and people have helped so much to raise money." Sian appealed to local businesses for help - and brothers Dan and Lee Ogden, of D and L Roofing, came to the rescue.

"They did us such a big favour and helped us out so much," she added. "My mum's back to 99 per cent now and I'd just like to thank them and the whole community for everything they have done in the last six months."