An emergency fundraiser has been set up for a single mum and her two young children after a fire destroyed their home in Orpington.

London Fire Brigade was called to the blaze on Quilter Road just before 9am on Sunday (July 1).

Hayley Douglas, 32, noticed the fridge light wasn’t working after her daughter asked her to make breakfast.

She told News Shopper: “I looked up the stairs and the loft hatch was on fire. My two children were in bed watching TV on their iPads.

“My partner was in bed and I shouted there was a fire. He rang the fire brigade as we all quickly left the house.”

The fire was above her daughter’s bedroom, and Hayley fears the situation could have been worse if it happened hours earlier.

She said: “If this was three in the morning my children would be dead. I was lucky my child got up when she did.”

News Shopper:

Hayley is a single mum on benefits and does not have contents insurance.

The family of three have been staying in a Premier Inn hotel in Orpington, but her landlord, Clarion Housing, has said they may have to move to a hotel in Swanley on Saturday because the current one is fully booked.

She now hopes Clarion can find her an alternative home because her children, aged eight and four, are “very traumatised and don’t ever want to return there”.

The cause of the fire is not yet confirmed, but it has been suggested that the solar panel above the home was responsible.

Since the fire, an emergency fundraiser has been set up for the family.

Amiee Casserley, who set up the JustGiving page, said: “Sadly my friend's neighbour has lost her home this morning to a fire. The solar panels on the roof caught fire and quickly swept over the roof and into the loft.

“Luckily her and her children escaped from the house but they have lost all of their personal belongings. As you can see from these pictures the house has been devastated and they have been left without things as basic as clothes and toiletries.

“Can I please ask you to donate whatever you can to help them in this difficult time. Any donation will be hugely helpful and very much appreciated.”

Link to the frundraiser: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/aimee-casserley

Hayley told News Shopper the support from the community has been excellent.

She added: “I have had lots of donations of clothes and someone went to Primark and bought brand new clothes.

“My daughter’s school is also holding a dance event to raise money.”

Hayley, who is a full time carer for her nan, has not been able to visit her since the fire.