THE TRIP to deliver aid to the refugee camp in France was the completion of a campaign started back in November and led by the mayor of Petersfield, Lesley Farrow.

The Post and Petersfield Town Council teamed up to collect donations from the community to deliver to refugees arriving in camps in northern France.

Post readers were quick to respond to our appeal for sleeping bags, Wellington boots and camping equipment, and both the newspaper and council were overwhelmed by the level of donations.

Removals and storage company Britannia Reeves, based in The Causeway, helped out by providing a storage unit, such was the large amount of items donated by the public.

The appeal was then opened up to include clothing as well, and so much of this was received from donors it was decided to send this directly to Syria via the Samara’s Aid Appeal charity.

All of the other items donated were taken by the Post’s team – editor Graeme Moir, photographer Innes Marlow and reporter Lewis Brown – to the Grande-Synthe refugee camp near Dunkirk, on February 21.

Now that the appeal has been completed and all items have been delivered, Mrs Farrow said: “We were overwhelmed by the amount of items which were donated.

“People had different views about helping the refugees but they did their bit to help the camps in northern France.

“Our campaign has brought a little bit of help to this situation and I?am very grateful for all of the help.”