A NEW aid mission to help migrants sleeping rough in northern France has been a success, thanks to generous donations from people in Keighley.

Knowle Park resident Sajjad Sadiq teamed up with Abid Pervez, from Huddersfield, to take a van load of urgently needed supplies to displaced people living in desperate conditions in makeshift camps outside Calais and Dunkirk.

The pair drove to the Continent on Friday September 14, after cramming a large amount of donated items into Mr Sadiq’s van.

They picked up a third volunteer, Lucy Argrave, in Oxford, along with more donations of food from High Wycombe, before crossing the channel to begin distributing the aid to those in need.

Mr Sadiq, an HGV driver who has carried out many previous aid journeys to help these migrants, said he got back to Keighley in the early hours of today. (Sept 17)

“We took sleeping bags, blankets, tents, clothing and food,” he explained. “The van was absolutely jam packed.

“The support we had from people from Keighley was brilliant. A big ‘thank you’ to everyone who contributed.

“But the situation in France isn’t getting any better, if anything it’s just going backwards. Many of the people we saw there are living in horrendous conditions. It’s almost beyond comprehension.”

He said the migrants camped without proper shelter around Calais and Dunkirk included people from Syria, Afghanistan and Kurdistan.

Mr Sadiq said they include young children, who have no access to school.