A 24-HOUR operation to help save the lives of those in desperate need of support in Syria will be taking place after an 'amazing' response from volunteers.

Refugee Aid North West has been searching for 72 volunteers to work on a round the clock rota and fill a shipping container in Appleton with clothing, food, baby and hygiene essentials.

The sponsored event will take place at Barley Castle Industrial Estate from midday next Friday.

Immediately after, the container will be shipped to Syria, via Turkey, providing much needed aid to people taking refuge in camps.

So far around 60 volunteers have been confirmed – each has signed up to work a two-hour shift and be sponsored a minimum of £20 by friends and family to take part.

Organisers hope the sponsorship will raise up to £2,000, which will be spent on buying more essential items.

Appleton Thorn resident Nora Carlin, from Refugee Aid North West, said: "People have been so generous – we have had many hundreds of bags of donated items over the last six months and we need many more.

"All donations are carefully sorted and packed into sturdy sacks based on age, gender and clothing type. Anything that isn't suitable for refugees goes to local charities - nothing is wasted.

"Of course, we still need people to donate clothes and other items but we also need help sorting the hundreds of donations we already have, which is why we've arranged this event.

"It's a way for people to offer real, hands on help in getting aid to the people in Syria who need it.

"The situation for refugees in Syria is absolutely desperate – winter is setting in and children are freezing to death.

"I heard about a four-month-old baby that died from the cold last week, people are literally starving to death and we must do something to help.

"Let's get this container filled and sent as soon as possible.

"The Mayor and mayoress of Warrington are visiting the unit on January 22 at 11am to be shown what we are doing and how.

"The mayoress will pack the first bag of the 'packathon' at noon then it is over to the volunteers for the next 24 hours.

"The response from volunteers has been amazing and we have actually extended the operation now."

Nora, 56, is also appealing for builders' merchants to get in touch if they can supply rubble sacks.

"We will need thousands," she added.

Refugee Aid NW has been collecting and distributing aid to refugees in camps in Syria, Greece and other locations since last August.

To get involved e-mail RefugeeAidNW@outlook.com

For further information visit facebook.com/groups/Calaisaidfromwarrington