A TikTok famous family have said they are quitting the social media platform as they no longer feel safe following an arson attack on their home.

The revelation was made by The Smithy Family in a post to their more than 3.2million followers.

Dad Nick and mum Jess were forced to flee their Welling home last week with their two young daughters, Isabella, nine, and Amelia, six, and a newborn baby boy.

Footage of the moment a car was set on fire outside their address, leaving it severely damaged was released online. The incident is being treated as an arson attack by police.

In the wake of the devastating blaze, dad Nick revealed how his family had struggled to resume activity on the popular video sharing app, TikTok.

They were also fearful of further repercussions from pranksters who had previously targeted them, sending unpaid takeaways and prostitutes to their home.

In an emotional farewell post, he said: "The insurance is going to fix the house but the home will never be a home again.

"We can't thank people enough for their kind messages.For the people who set up the Go Fund Me, you guys know I'm a very proud person.

"I like to fix things, I'm the person people go to for help. So for me it is hard to take that in that so many people were offering to help and try to support my family."

He also revealed they would be using the money to rent out a home privately in a gated community "off the beaten track".

"You guys have given us a year's breathing space. So we can pay the rent upfront and begin to put our family back together," he added.

"I will be forever thankful for everyone that done that."

Before signing off the dad-of-three took aim at the trolls and called abuse to stop online.

Asked whether social media platforms need to be doing more, he responded: "Massively. There needs to be a reform. People are loose with what they say knowing the fact they are hidden.

"The fact they can make an account within 15 seconds. Everyone has encountered trolling on social media.

"It needs to be you need to verify yourself to have an account, that is how it should be.

"If you're going to put death threats down or if you are going to say something that is damaging and not real you need to be able to held accountable for that."

Meanwhile the police have urged the public to not conduct their "own investigations" in the wake of the publicity of the incident.

Detective Sergeant Banks, from the Serious and Complex Investigations Unit, said: "This incident has been well publicised and whilst we appreciate that the public wish to support the family, we ask that all information is provided to us directly.

The moment a fire is started outside The Smithy Family's home

"I also urge the public to refrain from undertaking their own investigations in relation to this case.”

He added: “My team of officers have been working around the clock to establish the circumstances of this incident.

"I thank everyone who has already come forward to police to assist with the investigation. We are following up all lines of enquiry and all allegations made to us.

“Police remain in regular contact with the family and they are being kept up to date as to the progress of the investigation.

"My heartfelt sympathies go out to them during what has been an unimaginably difficult time. I thank them for their continued support as enquiries are ongoing."

In a statement on its website TikTok says its mission is to "inspire creativity and bring joy".

It said its community guidelines apply to everyone and it will remove any content – including video, audio, livestream, images, comments, and text – that violates this.

Accounts and devices that repeatedly infringe these rules will be suspended, it adds.

Anyone with information relating to this incident is urged to call police on 101 or tweet @MetCC quoting CAD 8350/14July.

To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or visit Crimestoppers_uk.org

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