A Ramsgate family has launched an appeal to raise money for an electric wheelchair after their house was badly damaged in a blaze on Monday.

Crews were called to a two-storey building in Manston Road at around 3.45pm and an investigation is underway to identify the cause.

The fire started in a bedroom on the ground floor, causing smoke damage to the rest of the property.

Tom Brooks, 18, returned home to find his disabled sister's bedroom alight and alerted family members to leave the house.

He said: "When I came back in I smelt burning and I presumed someone was having a bonfire, but I checked and saw smoke coming from the back of the house. I saw flames in the bedroom and everyone else was upstairs.

"I shouted to everyone to get out because it wasn't something I felt I could handle. My mum shut the door of the bedroom to contain the fire otherwise it could have been a lot worse."

Tom's twin sister Holly was born with Cerebral Palsy and requires a wheelchair to cope with everyday life. The cost of a replacement is £7,000.

He said: "My sister now has no bed, she's lost her clothes, laptop and all other belongings. It was quite a horrific event but we were quite fortunate that it was not as severe as it could have been.

"She is incredibly reliant on her electric wheelchair and we set up an appeal to raise money for a new one because the wheelchair was never added to our home insurance policy.

"Everyone who has donated to our fundraising page has been very generous and to raise £2,000 in 48 hours from people we have never met before is just incredible."

Tom and Holly are currently in temporary accommodation with their mum Lynda.

"I guess the cause of the fire was an electric fault but investigations are ongoing and we should soon find out.

"For now we have temporary accommodation but the main thing is that everyone is okay."

Firefighters using breathing apparatus brought it under control by 4.37pm.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue said crews used a hose reel jet, covering jet and a positive pressure ventilation fan to tackle the blaze.

She said: "It started in a ground floor rear bedroom.

"The bedroom was severely damaged and the remainder of the ground floor suffered severe smoke damage.

"The first floor also suffered light smoke damage.

"The cause is not know yet."

Two fire engines from the town were sent to the scene.

Anyone interested in finding out more or donating to the appeal can visit www.gofundme.com/zf4ugw.