A fundraising appeal has been launched after fire badly damaged a pet shop just five weeks after it opened.

Medusa Pet Shop in Stockton-on-Tees was struck when a blaze took hold in a storage unit next door at around 12.30pm on Sunday.

Owners James and Paige Tait were alerted by a passer-by and managed to save animals in the shop.

Customer Helen McCluskey set up a GoFundMe appeal to help soften the blow from loss of income although its understood that James and Paige are now looking for alternative employment.

On the GoFundMe page Helen said: “Please help them rebuild and not lose an amazing shop with beautiful staff. Sadly, there has been an arson attack and luckily all animals safe. They may not be a able to reopen. Let’s fight to get them back on their feet as they don’t deserve this when they have worked so hard to make a lovely business.”

Helen has set a target of £1,000 with more than £100 having already been raised. The GofFundMe page could be found by clicking here.

Cleveland Fire Brigade said the cause of the blaze was being investigated