A SCOUT group tonight (Monday, September 7) hailed the "absolutely phenomenal" public response to its appeal for donations of tents, sleeping bags, toiletries, shoes and food which will be delivered to migrant camps near the French port of Calais later this month.

The response to the call by the 60-strong Coxhoe Scout Group proved so great that the Village Hall soon began to fill with donated items and it had to call on the vicar of nearby St Mary's Church who readily agreed to provide overspill storage.

Assistant Cub Scout Leader Alison McManus said: "The response has been absolutely phenomenal.

"At a wild guess we have enough to fill a lorry, at least several van loads have gone to the church because we were unable to store any more in the hall.

"People were dropping off brand new equipment that they had gone out and bought specifically. We have had so much support. We have had people from the village and people from Durham coming into help out.

She said there had been a steady stream of people arriving to donate items at the hall between 6.30pm and 8pm.

"It was a really heartwarming and a really positive thing to do at a time when people have been so upset by what has been in the news," she added. "It feels like we have really been able to achieve something."