A HAMPSHIRE mum is determined to help refugees who are desperately searching for a new home.

Vicky McPherson is hoping people across the county will spare any items they can to help men and women seeking refuge after escaping war-torn countries.

Shocked by a heart-breaking image of a young refugee boy who had drowned and washed ashore, the 30-year-old from Hamble decided to take action.

Vicky is hosting two collections and said she decided to do something because it is her duty as a fellow mother.

Mum to two-year-old Lillian, Vicky said she was overwhelmed by emotion when she saw the picture and felt she had to do something immediately.

Vicky said: “It’s just horrendous what is happening to all these people, they don’t know where to call home and they are making such huge sacrifices to find somewhere safe.

“Mums are carrying their children for hundreds of miles and killing themselves trying to feed their children and putting their lives at risk constantly. I can’t comprehend the suffering.

“I saw the picture on the news the other night and then on the fronts of national newspapers, I actually had to leave the room when it was on air because I was crying. I’ve always felt the need to support charities but since becoming a mother, things involving children really strike a chord with me.”

Vicky runs two playgroups in Hamble and decided to rally parents in the area to donate any unwanted items and so far they have donated enough to fill three estate-size cars.

The two collections are for men in Calais and women in Kos, and Vicky needs help from people across Hampshire to make sure these people get vital supplies.

The collection rally comes after the Daily Echo reported that newly formed organisation Southampton Action had more than 100 people donating items in the first hour of their donation drive.

Vicky also needs help transporting the women's goods to Kos and is looking for any couriers who may be able to help.

She added: “At the moment I have no way of getting the items over to Kos so it would be amazing to find somebody to help. This was a spur of the moment decision to help and I've been amazed by the generosity of people so far so it would be a shame if we couldn't get the donations over there."

The collection for men needs clothes, toiletries, tents, sleeping bags, waterproof clothing, shoes and emergency supplies like waterproof covers, travel bags and candles or torches with batteries and the deadline for these will be Sunday, September 27.

The collection for women needs clothing, hiking boots or trainers, coats, wooly hats, underwear, toiletries and sanitary items, children’s clothing, blankets and baby slings and the deadline will be Thursday, September 17.

Donations can be left at St Andrew’s Church in the Priory Centre in Hamble High Street on Wednesdays and Sundays from 10am till 12noon.

To find out more call Vicky on 07799 367687.