A FUNDRAISING appeal to help a family whose home was devastated when an uninsured driver crashed into it on Christmas Day has been launched.

Ana Diaconu, 30, and Florin Maracinenu, 34, and their two young children lived in a property on Argent Street in Grays and have been left homeless after incident as the house is unsafe.

Ana has launched the fundraiser in the hope they will be able to restart their lives. So far, more than £2,000 of a £5,000 target has been raised.

Ana said her children, two and nine, were "not very good" following the smash and she fears she won't be able to return to the home.

She added: "We have a mortgage so it's not going to be easy. We are still in Grays at a friends house but they have a family."

A teenager was arrested in the wake of the incident. A statement for Essex Police said: "A man was arrested on suspicion of dangerous driving, driving without a licence and no insurance. He has since been released on bail while enquiries continue." 

The damaged home.

The family may have escaped without injury but now face the daunting prospect of rebuilding their lives after the crash that forced them out of their home.

Ana and Florin are hoping to find suitable accommodation near to their work while they are unable to return to their home for the foreseeable future.

The fundraising page can be accessed via this link.