A fundraising campaign has been launched to help a Dartford man who has been left facing huge expenses after his house, shed and precious motorbike were destroyed in a storm.

Kevin Mayne, 59, from Temple Hill, Dartford, couldn’t believe his eyes when he woke at 6am on Thursday and saw half the wall on the side of his semi-detached house being ripped away and falling on the roof of his shed, severely damaging his beloved Harley-Davidson motorbike in the process.

Mr Mayne, who has lived in the house since birth and lost his lifelong partner Kim four years ago, discovered he only had contents insurance and so the astronomic cost of the repairs is now his sole responsibility.

His friend Vanessa Ricketts, who set the page up, said: “Since starting this page the council has invoked the Building Act 1984, Section 77 Ruinous or Dilapidated Structures and declared the house unsafe.

“Unfortunately, this has taken the matter out of Kev’s hands so he won’t be able to get independent quotes but will be presented with a bill at the end.

"Kev has told me the council reckon the scaffolding will exceed £20,000 and he has to have the full end wall, part of the roof and shed rebuilt. He’s been told this could be another £30,000 to £35,000.

“Four years ago Kev lost Kim, the love of his life, and no doubt she’s up there now looking down saying, 'You stupid b*gg*r!' and we’d probably all agree, but as friends we also help in times of need and it doesn’t get more timely than this.

"Please help Kev raise the funds needed so that he can continue to live in the house he was born in and in which he and Kim shared their lives.”

In less than a week more than 70 people have donated £4,000 towards the project. To help go to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/kev-mayne-aka-dilligaf