A fundraising bid to support a family who suffered the tragedy of losing a three-year-old boy in a devastating fire has more than doubled its £5,000 target.

Close friends launched a fundraising appeal after a fire at Ffair Rhos, near Tregaron, in the early hours of Sunday, 19 January, killed Zac Harvey, 3, and left his four-year-old brother, Harley, in a critical condition in hospital.

Zac’s father Shaun Harvey was also hospitalised with burns.

Family friend Siobhan Durber, who set up an official fundraising page with the help of Claire Bryant after receiving permission from the family, said that “their lives have been torn apart” by the “devastating” events and pledged to raise £5,000.

Within five days, the target was smashed and raised to £10,000. With ten days, that target was also passed.

Well-wishers have raised £10,107 so far for the family that Siobhan said “are deeply loved by many people, both in the local community and beyond”.

“Thank you all so much for your overwhelming support and donations,” Siobhan said after the first target was passed last week.

“We have reached our target in such a short space of time and we can’t thank you enough.

“We are increasing the target, as we now recognise that the support the family need is far more than could ever have been anticipated.

“We hope that by raising funds we can provide some stability for the family. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.”

The family fundraising page can be found at www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/harley-zac-harvey