A weekly’s appeal to help families left homeless by a fire on its patch has smashed its target.

Fourteen families could only watch as their possessions went up in flames at a block of flats on Canterbury’s Tannery estate last month.

In response, the Kentish Gazette launched a campaign to help the stricken victims by raising £10,000 for the charitable foundation connected to social landlord Town and Country Housing, which managed most of the properties affected.

In just over a month the appeal has surpassed its target, raising £14,580.

The appeal’s logo

Gazette editor Leo Whitlock said: “Credit has to go to news editor Joe Walker who was the driving force behind the campaign and set an ambitious target of £10,000.

“From the moment we launched our appeal, we were overwhelmed by the generosity of our readers.

“The plight of those families affected by the fire obviously hit home.

“People telephoned the office to see how they could help, and envelopes started arriving with cheques and cash inside. That was on top of the online donations.”

As well as the Gazette, the campaign was publicising in the KM Group-owned title’s sister freesheet Canterbury Extra and the KentOnline website, with help from the JustGiving press office.

The foundation will now allocate the money to those most in need, funding essentials such as furniture and kitchen goods as those affected attempt to rebuild their lives in new homes.

Bob Heapy, Town & Country Housing Group chief executive, said: “We would like to thank the Kentish Gazette for setting up the JustGiving page, which has allowed us to raise much-needed funds to support those families affected by the fire.

“We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of the residents, businesses and organisations of Canterbury, including many churches, following the fire at the Tannery back in July.”