A family's Christmas Day was left in ruins after a fire at their home.

The blaze at North Road, Queenborough, destroyed a neighbour's caravan and caused damage to both floors of the property.

Serena Morphey, 30, her partner Douglas Gould, 33, and their three children were left with their Christmas in tatters.

Miss Morphey said: "I felt sick. Our whole Christmas has been ruined.

"It's been chaotic. We've been trying to ring round to sort everything out but because it's a bank holiday there is nothing you can do. It's always tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow."

It is believed the fire started outside their house at around 7.20pm.

Flames rose up the side of their house, scorching the bricks and melting a second floor window.

It also spread to the garden, destroying the wooden fence, two wheelie bins and toys, including the children's bikes.

The fire was stopped just as it was moving underneath the floorboards of the house.

However, it caused damage to pipes, which has meant the family cannot use the bathroom.

Stay-at-home-mum Serena added: "There was also a massive gas leak and the floorboards had to be torn up because they couldn't get to the valve because it had completely melted."

The children, aged four, nine and 12, were not at home when the fire struck.

Miss Morphey said: "We had Christmas dinner then me and the children went to a Christmas party and Doug was here by himself, just lying on the sofa.

"He could hear a crackling noise and, before he knew it, there was a huge fire outside.

"He rang the fire brigade and then rang me."

The distress caused by the damage to their home is all the worse as the house is uninsured.

The fire also caused damage to the outside of their neighbours' home.

They were unavailable for comment at the time of going to press.

The caravan was parked on their drive and was completely destroyed.

There was also some damage to their garden.

Fire crews, using three pumps, stayed at the scene until 9.30pm.

It is believed the fire began behind the caravan. It is not known what caused it.