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Britons Step In To Help Ease Refugee Suffering

The suffering of those affected by the refugee crisis gripping Europe has galvanised tens of thousands of Britons into raising funds and gathering supplies to help the humanitarian relief effort.

People across the UK have come together to sign petitions, collect food and clothing, donate money, and offer up their homes to people displaced by conflict in the Middle East and Africa .

A convoy of about 20 cars has taken £6,000 worth of vital supplies of food, clothing and shelter to a camp in Calais, France, today.

Weyman Bennett, joint secretary of organisers Stand Up To Racism, told Sky News: "I believe as human beings we should offer support to everybody else. Britain has a long tradition of welcoming people.

"Let's keep that tradition alive and let's make sure that all those people are welcomed into Britain as they have been in Germany."

Sky's Richard Suchet, who is travelling with the group, said the manager of a donations centre in the French port had told him British people were the most generous.

However, a charity worker based in Calais said the disorganised nature of some aid being sent was causing chaos and creating undignified scenes in the camp.

Maya Konforte said: "I'm very sad because this huge arrival of solidarity and help from the UK and Belgium is wonderful. It shows people are not happy about their governments and want to help the refugees.

"However, when something that big happens it needs to be organised. A tidal wave of goodness is still a tidal wave.

"Today we've had massive arrivals. Many people, practically speaking the Belgians, did not warn us or tell us how many trucks were arriving.

"They wanted to show dignity to the people, to give these refugees their dignity back, and instead they've taken it away because they've created such chaos that people are going crazy."

The Prime Minister has bowed to intensifying political pressure and announced that Britain would take "thousands more " refugees from camps in countries around Syria.

George Osborne echoed David Cameron's remarks, but warned Britain also needed to do more to tackle the causes of migration by defeating smuggling gangs, boosting aid and tackling the conflict in Syria.

The Chancellor also described the UK as "one of the founders of the asylum system".

More than 40 local councils have responded to an appeal to offer sanctuary to the refugees.

Labour leadership contender Yvette Cooper - who earlier this week called for the UK to take 10,000 refugees - said local authorities around the country had shown a "rising sense of moral purpose".

The shadow home secretary said that within 24 hours of her asking councils in England, Scotland and Wales if they would be prepared to help in providing places for refugees, more than 40 had written back offering support.

But council leaders have warned that there is a limit to how much they are able to do without more government support.

David Simmonds, of the Local Government Association, described the offers by some people to take in refugee families as "pie in the sky".

The reality is that it costs many millions to house and support asylum seekers while their applications are being processed, he said, with many taking years to decide.

Mr Simmonds said: "The cost of providing the services we would need to provide is clearly very significant. Generous offers are very good, but if it takes several years to process somebody's asylum application that person is not allowed to work.

"Are those people who are opening those homes genuinely willing to have a stranger from a war-torn country living in their house potentially for three or four years while a decision is made about whether they will be allowed to stay?"

Some football fans in London said they planned to show their support by making donations and waving "#RefugeesWelcome" banners at upcoming matches.

Charities say they have received hundreds of thousands of pounds in donations from members of the public.

Save The Children raised more than £500,000 in 24 hours with the support of several authors, including Patrick Ness and David Nicholls.

The number of people signing a petition calling on the UK government to accept more refugees, meanwhile, has passed 400,000.

Members of the Jewish community are also donating to the World Jewish Relief's Refugee Crisis Appeal.

Paul Anticoni, World Jewish Relief chief executive, said: "Many Jews wouldn't be here today without our ancestors finding shelter as refugees."