A TEAM of students from York are hoping to help the thousands of migrants living in makeshift camps in Calais.

Up to 3,000 men, women and children fleeing violence from countries including Eritrea, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Afghanistan are living in poor conditions with little shelter and without proper sanitation in what has become known as the Jungle.

Five University of York students, Emma Bilson, Grace Redmore, Alex Musto, Miki White and Robyn Hillerby, will travel to Calais at the end of next month and have urged the public to donate goods or money to help support those living in the camp.

Ms Bilson, 29, a postgraduate in social work, said the team had been inspired to go and help the refugees after seeing them on the news.

She said: "We were seeing all these images on the news and there was a lot of politics and talk about it but they are just people that need help. It doesn't matter about their politics and the discussions, we just wanted to do something and go and help people take some action rather than just talk about it.

"I know some people don't agree with the Government and it's controversial, but to us it didn't matter. It's just about that human side of it."

The group leave on September 26, and donations can be made from today to August 28 at CounterActs in Gillygate, or by emailing yorktocalais@gmail.com to arrange a pick-up.