More than €600m (£519m) has now been pledged by billionaires, charities, companies and individuals determined to help rebuild and repair Notre Dame in Paris.

The staggering sum has been raised less than 24 hours after fire ravaged France's world famous medieval cathedral.

Apple, L'Oreal and the oil company Total are among the household names which have declared they will give tens of millions of euros each.

France and Europe's richest man Bernard Arnault - reported to be worth £69bn - has pledged €200m (£173m), while François-Henri Pinault , the billionaire fashion boss of Hollywood star Salma Hayek, is to write a check for €100m (£86m)

Tim Cook, Apple CEO, said: "We are heartbroken for the French people and those around the world for whom Notre Dame is a symbol of hope.

"Relieved that everyone is safe. Apple will be donating to the rebuilding efforts to help restore Notre Dame’s precious heritage for future generations."

Mr Pinault, 56, was one of the first to come forward following what newspapers in France are calling a “national tragedy”.

The chairman and chief executive of the Kering group, which owns brands such as Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, is worth an estimated £19bn.

Notre Dame before and after Show all 19 1 /19 Notre Dame before and after Notre Dame before and after The cathedral with the spire standing tall (left) and (right) after the fire AFP/Getty Notre Dame before and after As viewed from the Montparnasse Tower before the fire AFP/Getty Notre Dame before and after As viewed from the Montparnasse Tower after the fire AP Notre Dame before and after The heart and transept before and one day after the fire AFP/Getty Notre Dame before and after The nave of the cathedral before the fire Alamy Notre Dame before and after The nave of the cathedral after the fire Reuters Notre Dame before and after The rose window in the cathedral before the fire AFP/Getty Notre Dame before and after After the fire a hole has been exposed in the roof above the window Twitter Notre Dame before and after The cathedral from the Seine before and after Reuters Notre Dame before and after Inside the cathedral before the fire Reuters Notre Dame before and after The burning roof has left a hole in the nave Reuters Notre Dame before and after The nave after the fire was extinguished AP Notre Dame before and after Inside the cathedral after the fire Reuters Notre Dame before and after A view from the Seine of the cathedral before and after the fire Reuters Notre Dame before and after An aerial shot of Notre Dame before the fire AFP/Getty Notre Dame before and after An aerial shot of Notre Dame during the fire shows the wooden roof burning and collapsing AFP/Getty Notre Dame before and after Tourists gather near the cathedral and then seen afterwards Reuters Notre Dame before and after The spire of the cathedral is shown before and during the fire AFP/Getty Notre Dame before and after A scorched section of the exterior after the fire Reuters

In a statement announcing his financial pledge, he said: "This tragedy strikes all the French and beyond all those who are attached to spiritual values. Faced with such a tragedy, everyone wants to revive this jewel of our heritage as quickly as possible.

"My father and I have decided to release… €100m to participate in the effort that will be necessary for the complete reconstruction of Notre Dame."

The donation was quickly followed by Mr Arnault.

The 70-year-old head of the LVMH luxury goods group said in a statement: “The Arnault family and the LVMH group would like to show their solidarity at this time of national tragedy, and are joining up to help rebuild this extraordinary cathedral, which is a symbol of France, of its heritage and of French unity."

Meanwhile, smaller donations are expected to flood in as part of a national subscription scheme launched by president Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.

Emmanuel Macron promises Notre Dame rebuild following devastating fire

Elsewhere, the country’s Fondation du Patrimoine, a private organisation which works to protect French heritage, said it would be starting an international appeal; while the website Dartagnans, which is dedicated to preserving France's cultural heritage, has announced it has already received around £24,500 in donations.