Close friends have launched a fundraising appeal to help a family which has been “torn apart” following the death of a three-year-old boy in a devastating fire on Sunday morning.

A police and fire investigation is underway after the fire at Ffair Rhos, near Pontrhydfendigaid, which killed Zac Harvey, 3, and left his four-year-old brother, Harley, in a critical but stable condition in hospital.

Family friend Siobhan Durber, who has received the family’s permission to set up an official fundraising page, said that “their lives have been torn apart” by the “devastating” events.

“In the early hours of Sunday, 19 January, in a caravan fire, tragically three-year-old Zac lost his life, and his brother Harley, four, remains in a critical condition in hospital, with Erin, his mother, by his side,” she said on the JustGiving site.

“Their father, Shaun, remains in hospital."

“The family are deeply loved by many people, both in the local community and beyond,” she said.

“So many have been asking what they can do to help.

“We hope that by raising funds we can provide some stability for the family and enable those that would like to help in some way an avenue to do this.”

So far, nearly £2,500 of the £5,000 fundraising target has been donated by well-wishers in just 24 hours.

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