AN EALING schoolgirl has been astounded by the support of her peers for refugees in Calais.

 Rebecca Shoesmith, who attends St Augustine’s Priory on Hillcrest Road, has spent September rounding up donations for Calais Action, to help refugees in makeshift camps near the French port.

Thousands of migrants and refugees are currently camping in squalid conditions there in the hope of reaching Britain.

Rebecca, 16, was first introduced to Action Calais when her sister asked if she wanted to donate any clothes to the cause.

This pushed her to think about those in crisis and she wanted to do more, so decided to promote the grass-roots organisation at her independent girls’ school.

“Action is needed to help refugees. Now,” she said.

She said she expected to collect one or two bags worth but ended up with between 40 and 50 suitcases, boxes and crates of clothes.

“I’m overjoyed at the great response,” she said. “People do care.

“I didn’t think we would collect so much, but we filled a whole room with donations from students and parents.”

School secretary Marie King said: “Reverend Mother Parlour was full to bursting.”

The collection was supposed to have finished two weeks ago, but Rebecca said she still had more donations coming in and was trying to find another drop-off point.

She added: “I would like to thank a parent at St Augustine’s Priory, Mrs Nnatu, who broadened the appeal out to another Ealing school Durston House, and we have received many donations from them.”

Calais Action has raised more than £2,700 for the refugees since it was formed last month.

Donations can be made until next Thursday, October 1, at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/calais-actio