A group of friends are on a mission, driven by a desire to help refugees in desperate situations.

Lucy Harvey planted the seed of the idea to set up a Facebook group and collect key items for people in migrant camps in Calais with four of her friends, and they were all eager to get on board.

The 38-year-old said: “The whole situation has been really playing on my mind lately.

“Obviously most recently the news about the children and other refugees drowning has been devastating.

“Realistically there’s not much we can do to about that issue personally, but we have a humanitarian crisis going on right on our doorstep that I feel we have a duty as human beings to do something about.”

Together Mrs Harvey and friends Elizabeth Goatley, Jody Smeed Carrington, Stacey Barron and Adam Barron set up Medway Masses Doing Our Bit For The Refugees In Calais on Thursday.

"It’s only 70 miles away from us but people who have gone over there say its one of the worst refugee camps in the world" - Lucy Harvey

The aim is to fill two vans full of much-needed items for the people who have made it to Calais and are stuck there, like warm clothing, camping equipment and toiletries.

It is hoped the vans will be ready to go within four weeks, and then regular runs made after that to keep up the aid.

In 24 hours they had already raised £650, had various offers of help and 1,000 had joined the group.

Everycare, where Mrs Harvey works, donated £100 and a London solicitor’s firm has agreed to pay for the hire of the vans and the cost to take them over the Calais on the ferry.

Mum-of-three Mrs Harvey added: “A lot of other aid has gone to help the women and children over in Calais, but about 100 people arrive every day and the ratio of men to women is about 10:1, particularly teenage boys. Their need is just as great.

“The weather is turning and it’s a miserable place to be. It’s only 70 miles away from us but people who have gone over there say its one of the worst refugee camps in the world.

“We’re not doing this for glory, or for any political agenda. We just want to help these people in need.”

What's needed?

• Men’s clothing including footwear, warm garments and coats as well as underwear and socks.

• Tinned food

• Wind up torches and candles

• Camping equipment including tents, sleeping bags, pots and pans, chairs

• Hot water bottles

• Toiletries including soap toothbrushes and paste, shower get and wipes.

Each of the friends is doing their bit on the Facebook group and there are also talks of organising a musical event over the next few weeks to raise more funds.

Mrs Barron runs the Poco Loco bar in Chatham so that is going to be involved, as is her husband Adam who appeared on The Voice in 2013.

Mrs Harvey said the group were amazed by the response so far and “knowing there is so many people in our local community that care about these issues as we do is heartwarming and restores our faith in humanity”.

For more information and to donate, click here.