Donations have poured in to a fundraising appeal set up to help those left homeless after the devastating fire on the Old Tannery estate.

More than 100 people, businesses and charities have already pledged their support via the JustGiving website to help raise £10,000 in a month for those affected by the blaze.

The total currently stands at more than £3,000.

The appeal was set up by the Kentish Gazette in the wake of the fire, which ripped through a timber-framed building on July 4, leaving 16 families homeless.

Among them was mum-of-four Colette Scott whose children were left with just the clothes on their backs.

It was the second tragedy to hit the 34-year-old in recent years, having lost her fiance Callum Osborn in a tragic building site accident in 2011.

She said: “I’ve lost everything. All the children’s clothes and toys are gone. We’ve pretty much been left with what we were wearing.”

The home of Sarah Horton, 28, and Dan Berry, 33, is likely to be demolished after the damage caused by the fire.

Recalling the harrowing aftermath of the blaze Dan said: “People were screaming outside and children were crying. They’d been evacuated and were watching their homes burn.”

The Gazette launched its appeal on Tuesday and has been overwhelmed by the support from its generous readers.

Pledging £20, an anonymous donor added: “Thinking of those who lost everything – money is not memories but I hope it can help make new ones.”

The Gazette has also asked many prominent businesses in the city to lend their support to the appeal.

City centre fast food restaurant McDonald’s and the Fenwick department store have both made generous donations, while the Canterbury Forest of Blean Rotary Club pledged an incredible £500.

Club president Bryan Collings said: “We raise most of our money for charity locally and it is thanks to the generosity of the people of Canterbury and Whitstable that we are able to make this donation of £500 to the Tannery appeal, to help those unfortunate families who lost their homes so tragically in last week’s devastating fire.”

To make a donation to the appeal click here.

If you’ve held a collection, or for any advice on how you can donate, call our newsdesk on 01227 475915 or email kentishgazette@thekmgroup.co.uk.