IT started as a small appeal for people in Warrington to donate items for Syrian refugees but residents were so generous that a grandmother’s fundraising drive led her to start a new charity.

And now Appleton Thorn resident Nora Carlin is asking people to hand over knickers or their first new £5 note to help those in need.

Nora said fundraising showed her the true kindness of people in the town.

The 57-year-old wanted to help Syrian refugees looking for a safe place to live in Europe after she saw the image of a dead three-year old lying face down on a beach.

She stayed up until 2am creating her Facebook appeal and said: “Initially we thought it would be a couple of weeks but people kept bringing donations and wanting to volunteer.”

In May she founded Refugee Aid NW (CARE UK) and her work has taken Nora to Samos in Greece to meet refugees for herself.

She said: “The trip helped me understand what the refugees need and what they do not. For example they don’t eat gelatine so we don’t send over jelly sweets.”

Nora also said the charity does not send over donations of hot dogs because Muslims do not eat pork, or tampons because Muslim women do not use them.

Large clothes are also unsuitable as she said the refugees are not large people, but any donations that are not sent to Greece go to Warrington charities including the YMCA, Cheshire Dog’s Home and Women’s Refuge.

The grandmother-of-four said: “It’s just been amazing and it shows how caring people are, the British people are stepping up and helping. It’s humbling. Everybody wants to do something.

“We can never ever send too much, there’s a massive need.”

She launched the Nora’s Knickers campaign this month because underwear gives refugees dignity.

She urged people to donate new underwear for those in need and said: “Someone came up with the name and I don’t mind – I think it’s quite amusing and memorable – if that makes people pick up another pack of underwear to donate then that’s great.”

The charity has grown so fast that Nora is appealing for help to find larger premises and looking to the future, she hopes to open a coffee shop where residents can drop off donations.

To get involved visit the Facebook page Refugee Aid NW (CARE UK) charity No 1167299.