PREPARATIONS are underway for an aid convoy to leave Malmesbury loaded with a huge variety of goods donated by the people of North Wiltshire for refugees camped at Calais.

CalAidMalmesbury (correct) was recently formed by four local men concerned at the plight of thousands of people, including many families with young children, who face an uncertain future.

Pete O'Brien, Gavin Jones, Julian Lewis and Nick Pascoe aim to help make life more tolerable for inhabitants of the ramshackle collection of tents and hits known as The Jungle.

Their ethos is: “We're not trying to solve the issue. Our political leaders are supposedly there to do that. We are just trying to make people's lives a little better whilst they are waiting for a solution.”

Their central storage depot is a barn near Malmesbury - the location of which they are keeping secret for security purposes - where goods are being sorted and stacked ready for transportation.

Surveying the large amount of items which are pouring in Mr Pascoe said: “It’s going great. It’s hard to give an impression of just how much stuff there is here.”

He went on: “We’ve at the very least two van loads of all manner of useful and comforting stuff that people from across North Wilts have donated.

“From toothbrushes to washing powder, shower gel, buckets, ropes, tarpaulins, kidney beans, rice, pots pans, board games, torches, tents, sleeping bags, warm boots, boxes, a ton of clothing and cash donations.”

Tennis rackets and footballs are also among the items being collected “to help them pass the time while they wait to see if the system sorts itself out.”

People are being encouraged to continue contributing the badly needed goods for the inhabitants of The Jungle who will require warm clothes, blankets and camping gear and other items for the coming autumn and winter.

Mr Pascoe said they were keeping in close contact with the charities on the ground in Calais and were next week hoping to transport the contributions there in a convoy of three vehicles – two transit vans and a horse lorry.

Anyone who wishes to contribute, or require information about the drop-off locations can contact Mr Pascoe at: nick@pascoe.co.uk, or visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/groups/CalAidMalmesbury.