More than £1,000 has been raised to help a family whose home was destroyed in a blaze.

Firefighters in four fire engines attended the incident in Birdwood Avenue, Deal, at 11.35pm on Wednesday, February 2.

Flames ripped through the property until 3am with one person treated for smoke inhalation and minor burns.

It is believed to have started due to a faulty battery charger.

Now, a GoFundMe page '#SupportTheSartains to recover after house fire' has been set up to help homeowners Wendy and Ian Sartain.

It is to help them cover the cost of a furnished rental for six months to a year while the property is renovated.

By this morning, it had raised £1,093.

Becca-Grace Shrader and Jack Marsh who started it, write: "Wendy is well known in our area for running the Deal Spiritual Centre and being a warm, kind, charitable and lovely person who will do anything she can to help and guide others.

"I know so many people want to offer their help any way they can, so with the family’s permission, I have created this page so we can help raise the funds for them to recover from such a traumatic event."

The family has chosen not to comment but in an update on the page have thanked the emergency services and all those who have given practical support and donations.

A special mention has been given to the firefighters who rescued their hamster.

The pet has been nicknamed 007 after surviving being in the room next to the flames for more than an hour.

A spokesman said: "KFRS’ Volunteer Response Team also attended and provided support to affected residents.

"It’s believed the fire started accidentally on the ground floor of the house, due to a faulty battery charger."