SUPPORTERS of a charity helping refugees in Calais have made an urgent appeal for donations of caravans to help people stranded in camps.

Friends Vanessa Porter and Sammi Newman, from Hook Norton, set up CalAid OX15 as an offshoot of the Calaid charity in August after seeing coverage of the crisis on television.

Every two weeks, they appeal for new items based on the changing needs of refugees.

And they are currently looking for five caravans to send across the English Channel.

The caravans can be put to a variety of uses, including as medical centres as it becomes more difficult to work outside in winter.

Mrs Porter said: “It’s been a big community effort from everyone involved. We know it is going to be difficult to attract these kinds of donations but we are hoping people are going to be generous.

“All we ask is that they are in half-decent condition and are road-worthy so they can be towed.

“We are working with people on the ground both in Calais and in other countries including Serbia and Greece to help look after vulnerable people making the dangerous journey across the continent.”

The pair made their first collection last week, with 150 people donating items including 160 tents, 236 sleeping bags and more than 600 pairs of socks.

Other donations included 165 blankets and 45 bed rolls.

Children from Hook Norton Primary School have also been lending their support, writing messages on donated teddy bears to be sent over to Calais as part of their Teddy Aid project.

Mrs Newman, 38, said: “Everyone has been so helpful so far. The main reason we are doing this is because there is a humanitarian crisis and we’ve found people have responded to that.

“I know people may not be so willing to give away their caravans but they do not have to be in great nick – even the shell would be enough.”

They are also looking for people to donate DIY tools including screwdrivers and drills for making bed platforms and other permanent structures.

The pair will be holding a collection on Sunday in the youth hall at Hook Norton Library from 11am to 4pm.

For more information search for “CalAid OX15” on Facebook.