A couple who lost their home to a fire on Boxing Day have started rebuilding and hope to be back in time for Christmas.

Sonia and Mick Lane lost all their belongings in the devastating blaze, which ripped through their bungalow while they were visiting family.

About 25 firefighters were required to tackle the fire in Highfield Road, Halfway, caused by a fault in either a TV receiver box or a television.

It destroyed everything, leaving them with nothing but the clothes they were standing in.

Three months on the couple, currently living in a bedroom at a relative’s house with their two dogs, say the rebuilding process has begun.

Mrs Lane, 48, said: “The builders have cleared it out and taken the roof off. Now we’re waiting for Swale council to approve the plans.

“Hopefully, we’ll be back in there in November.

“We’re excited. We just want to go home.”

The mother-of-three, a store assistant at Aldi, Sheerness, said a lot of work is required, including taking down the back of the house and rebuilding it.

The couple, who have been married eight years, moved from Essex into their “forever home” in February last year to be mortgage-free and live by the sea.

The grandmother-of-four is still struggling to come to terms with what happened.

“Mick is OK and taking it all in his stride. He is my strength.

“I’m not doing good at all. I’ve been breaking down every day in tears, I’m getting panic attacks.

“People say ‘you’re insured, don’t worry’ but it doesn’t compensate what you lose emotionally.

“To lose a home to a fire is one of the most heart-wrenching things to experience.

"Everything you have worked for to have a nice home around you for your family just gone in a couple of hours.

“To lose a home to a fire is one of the most heart-wrenching things to experience...
everything you have worked for gone in a couple of hours" - Sonia and Mick Lane

“All the memory boxes of the children’s bits you cherish over the years kept in the loft, gone. No insurance can pay for such treasures.”

After the fire, several fundraising campaigns were launched and the Lanes said they would be forever thankful for the support.

“The community has been fantastic,” said Mrs Lane.

“The money raised got us a mattress, crockery, cutlery, bedding and clothes.

“It really did help us when we had nothing and we’ll never be able to put into words how to thank everyone for what they’ve done.”