HUNDREDS of kind-hearted people have responded quickly to a plea for donations of clothing, shelter and toiletries which will be sent from Worcestershire to refugees in Calais.

Already there have been scores of pledges of help after the Facebook group Calais Refugee Solidarity - Herefordshire and Worcestershire went live less than 24 hours ago.

Collections points have been organised and plans are afoot for members of the group to travel to the French port town in October to deliver the goods as well as the organisation of a family fun day to raise money to be given Kos Kindness.

The women behind the group have been overwhelmed by the response after a chat on a Facebook group for mothers in Worcester snowballed into the appeal.

Rachel Maynard, from Pershore, Samm Hale, from Worcester, Lisa Tanner, Elaine Lawson, Erika Andromeda and Ali Taylor, from Malvern, are now co-ordinating the collections and hoping more county businesses will get involved with the appeal.

Mrs Maynard said: "The response has just been fantastic so far.

"There was a few posts from women on the Facebook group Worcester Mums Network about the refugees and where to send donations and it went from there.

"There's someone going over at the end of September and four or five of us from the group will be travelling over in vans at the end of October.

"We are planning on approaching businesses to see if they can help out particularly with the things we are really short of such as shoes and shelter, warm clothing and boxes.

She said at the moment they were trying to collect warm clothing, particularly shoes, as well as shelter such as tents, blankets, tarpaulin and tinned food and toiletries.

Items and money will also be sent from the group to support refugees in Kos.

People from across the county have offered space in their homes as collections points for people to drop off goods and a full list can be found on the Facebook group.

Speaking about the situation in Calais, the 33-year-old mother of four said: "I think you have to not be human to not be moved by what is happening.

"It makes you sick to the stomach to see what people are going through.

"I look at my three year old and think about making the choices those families have to make - it is just horrible.

"You think what if it happened here and you were made to make the same choices, especially when you have children, you would hope someone would help you."

Elaine Lawson from Malvern Wells and her daughter Kirsty are planning to travel to Calais to volunteer for a week as well as take across donations.

"I couldn't just sit back and do nothing.

"I found it all really distressful and wanted to help.

"I'm not in a financial position where I can offer donations or money so I wanted to do something practical to help because I have got the time to do it.

"I just had to get involved."

Plans are at the early stages for the pair to travel to Calais later this year and volunteer at the camps and they have been in contact with a group currently in the French town.

For more information, join the Facebook group Calais Refugee Solidarity - Herefordshire/Worcestershire or call Mrs Maynard on 07738 565 111.