A restaurant is crowdfunding in the hope of raising £5,000 to stay afloat after Storm Eunice left the site with extensive damage.

Geff Stone, who runs whole foods restaurant Plant Base in Camden Road, Tunbridge Wells, has been left counting the cost after the storm last month saw the building's chimney stack collapse into the premises.

It left the team behind the eatery without power or access, an exposed roof and water leaking into the premises, described by Geff as a "natural water feature we didn’t ask for".

Now it has started a campaign to raise £5,000 to prevent it from going under while also holding special nights at neighbouring outlets.

They include a 'Dirty Vegan' night at The Guinea in nearby Calverley Road on March 11, and what is described as an "upmarket vegan soirée at Camden Road eatery Vittle & Swig.

Explained Geff: "Whilst we don’t currently know when we’ll be able to re-open, we are determined that we will re-open.

"We’re lucky to trade amongst such a warm and generous community of business owners and customers alike, and we feel truly lucky to have received countless offers of practical help, as well as much needed financial donations.

"We’ve been operating for five years, with this event sadly marking our milestone birthday. We’ve been through so much in that time, and we intend to get through this as well.”

Sarah-Jane Adams, director of the Royal Tunbridge Wells Together Business Improvement District (BID), added: "The Plant Base is such a high point of the town centre, offering a vegan, homemade and healthy dining experience.

"After such a difficult two years of surviving the pandemic, we need to help small business owners such as Geff to pull through – our hearts go out to the team for this to have happened just as the hospitality economy is turning the corner, but know loyal customers and neighbours can really make a difference.”

The crowd funding campaign can be found by clicking here. It has already raised more than £3,500 towards its £5,000 target.