Customers have rallied to save a struggling bookshop from closing down after a social media plea attracted international attention.

Sapphire Bates, who runs Book Bodega in Harbour Street, Ramsgate, shared a photo of the empty store and warned the business needed to raise £800 by Tuesday to pay its bills.

But after the tweet was shared by best-selling authors, the appeal reached book-lovers across the globe.

Ms Bates, who runs the business with her partner Nicholas Turner, says it has been "a little bit crazy" since the post was shared.

"The shop has been really busy today with locals but also people from places like Canterbury, Whitstable and places further afield than we would usually have in," the 29-year-old said.

"People have been buying online too. We’ve had people ordering from Italy, the US, Germany, Sweden – all over the place.

"Our online shop doesn’t facilitate international orders so I’ve arranged to send books out to some people myself via Royal Mail.

"Other people have chosen to buy books via pay it forward and I will pass them on to charities across Ramsgate."

Ms Bates shared a tweet yesterday with a picture of an empty bookshop.

Posting on Twitter, she said: "Winter is killing us, it’s so quiet and we need to make £800 by Tuesday to pay our bills.

"This is my current view = no customers. Please shop with us and help us stay open!"

The plea was shared by a host of famous names, such as John Rebus author Ian Rankin, comedian Sue Perkins and author Tom Holland.

And the support from customers has given Ms Bates and Mr Turner more confidence about the months ahead.

Speaking about the £800 target, she added: "I would like to think if we’ve not hit it, we are very close.

"Even if we haven’t exactly hit it yet, we will be confident to say to the landlord and the people we owe money to we will only need an extra day or two.

"But beforehand, the money wasn’t there and I didn’t know where it was going to come from."

The store, which opened in June last year, sells stock which is "handcrafted" by the owners and their team.

Ms Bates' appeal has now been seen by more than three million people.

They include Adam Kay, author of This Is Going to Hurt and Undoctored, who offered to perform a free event at the store.

Ms Bates said: "I thought January was bad but actually we turned over even less in February.

"I think if we can find a way to get through the next couple of months and find a way to pay the bills, I’m really confident we will make it to the end of the year.

"Summer months are much easier for us because of tourists.

"Based on the response, I feel good about it and it has been a massive motivational boost."