Walsall mum prepares essentials for Afghan refugees

Lucie Dennis said the support from the community has been "incredible"

A mum providing essential items to children fleeing Afghanistan says the support from the community has been "incredible".

Lucie Dennis, who runs Walsall-based group Help To Make Tummies Full, made an appeal on social media for goods for children relocating to the borough from the crisis-hit country.

Within 24 hours, 79 boxes of donations had been delivered to her.

The items are being packed into rucksacks to be issued to the refugees.

The rucksacks are being filled with clothes, colouring books and toiletries

They include clothes, colouring books and toiletries.

Mother-of-three Ms Dennis, 28, said she understood 48 children, ranging from babies to 14-year-olds, were being settled in Walsall.

The council has been contacted for comment.

Within 24 hours of sharing the post, 79 boxes arrived at Ms Dennis's home

Ms Dennis set up a wish-list on Amazon to ask for goods such as toothpaste, underwear, stuffed toys, colouring books and pyjamas after being told some children only had the clothes they were wearing, with no spares.

She said within a day of making her appeal, her house had been filled with donated goods totalling about £2,000.

• Where will all the Afghan refugees go?

• Hours without food or water in Kabul airport 'hell'

• Midlands Live: Breaking news and local stories

"The community has been just incredible," she told the BBC.

"My house is covered in jigsaws, baby shampoo... It's really refreshing, there is so much misery, but people want to help.

"I can't bare the thought of children flying across the world with nothing - we're so blessed to be where we are."

Working alongside Gemma Wainwright, who runs clothes bank Olivia's Closet, Ms Dennis said they would drop off the rucksacks within a few days of the children arriving next week.

Mother-of-three Ms Dennis says she has received donations totalling £2,000