AN 84-year-old woman is urging people across the area to dig deep to help transform the war-torn lives of child refugees.

In 1992 Bootle resident Joan Capp launched her charity Bootle Refugee Aid Cumbria UK (Bracuk), in the midst of the Bosnian refugee crisis.

Twenty-five years later and Mrs Capp is working harder than ever, trying to bring a glimmer of hope to refugees spread across the globe.

Now Mrs Capp and her three fellow volunteers are appealing to the public to help send supplies to displaced refugees in Greece, in addition to funds to children still living in war-torn Syria.

Mrs Capp said: "What's happening at the moment is that there's a charity called Jacob's Well that has already sent one container to refugees in Greece which was to help them with clothes, cots and shoes, and now we want to help fill another container.

"That's going to get sent out in six weeks."

The group is now urging people across west Cumbria to donate as much as they can afford to spare.

They are particularly looking to include warm clothing, nappies, toiletries and blankets, in addition to cots and cribs.

Mrs Capp is also eager to help children at the heart of the problem by sending much-needed funds to the families still living in Syria.

She said: "We now have got a contact in Syria so we are going to see if we can get some aid in there."

The charity is now hoping to collect as much money as they can from people in the area to send on to children suffering in Syria.

Mrs Capp said: "We really do need all the help we can get. It's the children who are the most innocent.

"At least in World War Two we could send children to the countryside but they can't do that.

"It's the children who are really suffering.

"Can you imagine your own child being four or five years old and never knowing anything but war? Can you imagine them never knowing anything but fear? You just can't."

After watching the horrors unfold in the media, members of Bracuk are determined to do all they can to help and give children the tiniest glimmer of hope.

Mrs Capp said: "The ones in the camps have nothing at the end of the day but to go back to a tent.

"When you think about it, if these children think that no-one is doing anything and that nobody cares, then that is only going to breed more hatred. If you do something kind, they will think more kindly.

"These people are risking their lives in a boat. They must be so desperate."

Anyone interested in helping Bracuk in their mission can contact Mrs Capp on 01229 718248, visit www.bootlerefugeeaidcumbria.org or see the charity's Facebook page.

They can also write to Bracuk, Hycemoorside House, Bootle Station, Millom, Cumbria, LA19 5XG.