David and Susannah Parnaby are still trying to come to terms with the fire which turned their world upside down.

Five days on and still smouldering, the remains of Fair Isle's world renowned bird observatory have been reduced to ashes.

While the loss of the observatory, which contained irreplaceable handwritten diaries by ornithologist George Waterston has been mourned, the Parnabys and their children have been left homeless following the fire.

Their flat, which adjoined the observatory, was burned to the ground during the inferno.

They have now lost their jobs and all their possessions, but the couple say the community has rallied around them following their devastating loss.

"The support we've received from so many people is really what's helped us to get through the last few days," explained David, who worked as a warden at the observatory.

"The messages, the offers of help, and I know it's been the same down the isle as well.

"It was our home, we raised our children here, but it's also the bird observatory has been here for 70 years."

The blaze was first spotted by the crew of the local ferry as it left the harbour on Sunday evening.

One fire engine raced to the scene on Fair Isle and another crew was flown to the devastating blaze from Shetland by coastguard helicopter.

Two more crews arrived on the island by boat.

The island's fire volunteers fought bravely, but even with extra crews flown in from the Shetland mainland, they were unable to save any of the building.

Just 55 people live on Fair Isle and its bird observatory has been at the centre of the community for decades.

Now focus has turned to supporting the Parnaby's, with more than £26,000 raised through crowdfunding to support the family as they rebuild their lives.

The family are determined that the building will rise from the ashes again.