VOLUNTEERS committed to helping refugees in Calais are hungrier to help than ever after their first visit to the French coast.

Swindon-Calais Solidarity took five cars and one van to the French port on Sunday (SEP 27) full of the donations made by people across the town over the past six weeks.

Anna Edwards, 41, of Greenfields in South Marston, has been co-ordinating the group and found she and her colleagues left feeling more motivated.

“It all made us more passionate. It left you with a sense of having to go back and deal with individuals who have made a mark on you,” she said.

“There are women there who are totally vulnerable with no husband or family to protect them.”

After collecting various donations, including tents, sleeping bags, crockery, kitchenware, clothing and food, approximately 20 volunteers set out for Folkestone at 4am on Sunday.

After arriving in Calais, they were taken to a warehouse which has been used as a distribution centre for all Calais aid, and after they dropped off their larger items, the group moved onto the camps.

As the doors to the van were flung open, Anna and her team found the refugees were forming an orderly queue for whatever aid was on offer.

Toilet bags, made up of shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes and other toiletries were soon handed out, but met with mild disappointment according to Anna.

She soon found they were after luxuries and when the team offered up their own lunches for the campers, the prospect of biscuits and cakes sent them into a frenzy.

Footballs, shoes, clothing and luxury foods were found to be most needed.

“The trip itself was a huge success. We gleaned more than we ever thought. We came away with so much knowledge about what people need,” said Anna.

“Children there came to us begging for shoes and now we know.”

When the group came away as the sun went down, they reflected on what they had seen.

“There is a real paradox because there is such a community spirit and camaraderie,” said Anna. “Everyone is smiling, but it’s totally at odds with the horror of the situation.

“There are children there, alone with no parents.

“It’s just a sea of tents. Imagine Glastonbury when everyone’s gone home: a sea of rubbish, of tents, of waste.

“It was incredibly windy and within 10 minutes there was dirt and dust in our hair and your eyes.

The charity intends to return to the port on October 11, but is in urgent need of more donations and even a midwife for a seven-month pregnant refugee they came across.

Call Anna on 07949 112403 for information on how and where to donate items or money.