A Hitchin mum of four moved by the continuing refugee crisis has organised a Wellington boots and clothing collection to be send to those suffering in the Greek island of Lesbos.

Faye Hall, of Kardwell Close, was so saddened by the images of refugees fleeing the war in Syria ending up without shelter in the Mediterranean that she co-ordinated a community effort to collect 250 pairs of wellies and warm clothing to be sent to those in need.

“What prompted me to help was reading about a volunteer on Lesbos who wrote that kids feet were rotting as they didn’t have any dry clothing,” said the 40-year-old.

“I thought that was terrible and got in touch with her through Facebook to ask how I could help.

“She said to me: ‘We need boots that will keep the children’s feet dry, and warm clothing.’

“I decided to start a collection to try to get as many Wellington Boots as possible so we could send them to her.

“Hitchin has a great community spirit and it’s been so great to see so many people help.

“We have now managed to collect 250 pairs of wellies, and in each pair there is a pair of warm socks. We have also put together warm clothing bundles to keep children warm.

“The response has been amazing – so many people have stepped up to help in so many ways and I would just like to thank them.

“We have more plans in the pipeline to help people – both here and abroad – but at the moment it’s just great that so many people in the Hitchin community have shown their caring side and decided to help.”

Lesbos volunteer Merel Grave added: “The logistical and structural problems on the ground are so great.

“People helping here discuss how, if we had a clean slate we would build a new camp from scratch – big enough so nobody would ever have to wait outside in the rain, sleep in the cold of winter without a tent, not be able to see a doctor, or not have dry clothes to put on after getting ashore.

“We try to fight on a daily basis for the people who need our help so much, to make their situation more bearable.

“There was a shipwreck of 240 vulnerable and traumatised people recently. They are survivors but many of them don’t know if their family members are alive or missing or critically injured.

“In the midst of all this misery we are here making small positive changes that otherwise wouldn’t happen at all.”