Friends of a former chef who was stabbed in the arm during a burglary at his home have set up an online fundraising page to support him while he is out of work.

Four masked men broke into the home of Tom Wilcox at Hythe Road in Ashford between 1.45am and 2.45am on Monday, May 15.

Mr Wilcox, 27, was alone in the house at the time, and suffered stab wounds to his face and to his arm.

It has left him with a scar below his eye, and after being taken to the William Harvey Hospital he was told that the nerves in his arm had been severed, so he has lost sensation and control of his hand.

Mr Wilcox used to work at restaurants in Kent, London and France, but has more recently been working in landscaping, friends say.

He has been told by doctors that he will probably not regain the use of his arm for at least 18 months, and that there is a chance he may never be able to use it again.

As a result, friends including Martha Foster have set up an online fundraising page to support Mr Wilcox while he is out of work and until he can find a new job.

"The wounds to his right arm are so severe that the nerves were severed" - Martha Foster

She wrote: "One of the four men stabbed him in the arm and slashed him across the face, just millimetres below his eye. He will likely have these scars for the rest of his life.

"The wounds to his right arm are so severe that the nerves were severed, meaning that he has lost sensation and control of this hand.

"He's just had an operation and they hope that he will re-gain use of his right arm in about 18 months, but they've made it clear that he may not have use of it again."

They are also welcoming any job offers for him, as he is fluent in French and has good references.

Police forensics experts and detectives were at the scene on Monday and set up a cordon around the area.

They appealed for information to track down the four attackers, who are said to have spoken with local accents. The gang fled in the direction of the town centre from Hythe Road on the night in question.

Witnesses or anyone with information can call 01843 222289 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111 and quote reference number ZY/01926/17.

The Just Giving fundraising page is here.