A Good Samaritan who came to the aid of an elderly neighbour living in "squalor" in a Fulham flat has been touched by people's generosity.

Lucy Ashen found the woman, who is in her 70s and has mental health problems, surrounded by filth and having not taken a bath in 13 years.

After gaining the trust of the woman, whom she refers to simply as 'My Lady' due to her vulnerability, she spent days cleaning the flat.

The pair quickly became friends and can be seen in a video linking hands while they sing along to Auld Lang Syne.

To help her get the flat in order, Ms Ashen appealed via Facebook for clothes, furniture and food, and said she was overwhelmed by the response.

The appeal went viral and she was offered donations by thousands of people living as far afield as Paris, Thailand and New Zealand.

'Response to appeal was overwhelming'

The atrocious conditions in which an elderly woman was found living in her Fulham flat

She has set up a Facebook page called My Lady and Me to share the heartwarming story, which she believes highlights the spectre of isolation suffered by thousands of elderly people and those with mental health problems.

The 39-year-old mother-of-three hopes it will inspire others to look out for their neighbours, and will show those in need that support is available.

"The response to my appeal was overwhelming. The flat could have been furnished 10 times over with what I was offered, and I'm so grateful," she said.

"I was worried about her and it took me weeks to gain her trust but when she let me into her flat I was horrified to find her living in utter squalor."

Although the flat is now unrecognisable from the bomb site it previously resembled, Ms Ashen says the biggest difference for her neighbour was discovering she is not alone.

She said the transformation over the last fortnight had been lovely to witness, as the woman shed her inhibitions, became more talkative and began singing and dancing.

'Heartbreaking to think many others are living like this'

How the flat looks following the transformation

Having fixed her flat, she now plans to take her on trips to the seaside and organise other outings.

She has set up a fundraising page on the website GoFundMe , through which she hopes to raise £1,000 to pay for the excursions.

"We saved her from this horrible life and now I want her to live her life and enjoy herself," she said.

"But this story's bigger than me doing something for her. It's about mental health and looking after elderly people.

"There must be thousands more people like her who are lonely, hungry and can't quite look after themselves but who don't know where to go for support, which is heartbreaking.

"I just hope this story can do some good. Even it makes one person stop and think, it will have been worth it."

Among the many donations she has received, Ms Ashen said she was particularly grateful for those from Hammersmith & Fulham Foodbank and to Tesco in Kensington.

She also thanked her 14-year-old daughter Ruby Lander for mucking in and helping to clean the flat.