A COCKERMOUTH couple who run a popular Turkish restaurant have been raising funds to help those affected by the devastating earthquake in Turkey - amid their own personal loss as a result of the horrific event.

Mehmet and Tracy Durmus, owners of Aspava restaurant in Cockermouth, were still trying to get in touch with Mehmet's family last week who are in the town, which Mehmet grew up in.

The powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake in parts of Turkey and Syria was followed by a series of aftershocks and more than 41,000 people were killed, although the authorities fear that death toll will still rise.

Tracy said: "We managed to finally speak to his sister and his auntie and they are all okay. They are outside in tents in the moment and they have got snow, it's about minus 8-10 and there are about fifteen people in the tents, but they didn't get them until Friday - they were sleeping outside.

"When we were on the phone to them they were still getting aftershocks.

"They were told their house was safe, they were just going inside to get some things out, they are still to scared to go back because of the size of the aftershocks.

READ MORE: Cockermouth couple's personal connection to earthquake in Turkey

"While they were on the phone you could hear a noise and she said we are going to have to go, we are going to have to go because it's shaking again, it's awful."

Mehmet's cousin sadly died in the earthquake. Tracy said: "Every other member of the family has lost their house. I can't describe it, we count ourselves lucky we have only lost one family member."

"They have managed to find him and bury him, but I think it took four days."

The couple's home in Turkey, a property in the village of Islahiye, has been deemed structurally unsafe and will be knocked down.

Mehmet is due to travel out to Turkey to help with the recovery effort at some point near the end of the month - setting up a fund to help those with aid when he gets to his home town and village.

READ MORE: UK sends rescue specialists to Turkey in aftermath of devastating earthquake

The GoFundMe page is now up to over £8,500, with the couple also estimating that they have had around £4,000 in cash donations from people.

Tracy said: "The response from people that we know and also people that we have never met before just coming in and giving us money, people giving me money on the street, the thoughts of people have just been amazing.

"We are just so lucky to live where we do.

"We just want to thank everybody for their support, even a kind word is enough for us, but this money is really going to help so many people, they have literally got nothing, just the stuff they are standing up in."

To donate to the GoFundMe page you can click here.