AN ILMINSTER man has returned from the Calais refugee camp and is set to share his stories of the camp with the town.

Peter Lansdown has returned from his second trip to the migrant camp in France, known as “The Jungle” delivering van loads of tents, food and clothing to crisis charity Care4Calais.

Mr Lansdown said: “The suggestion I go was made by George in the Green House, the Up-Cycling shop and cafe in Ilminster.

“By the time I had thought about it she had sent the stuff she had collected for Greece so I asked for donations in Ilminster and was met with a really generous response.

“April 2 and 3 was my first visit. My VW LT35 was jammed full of clothing collected in Ilminster and Langport. On July 25 I set off for my second visit with food and tents from RAFT Taunton.

“September 12 is hopefully the next visit with some tinned/dried food donated by local supermarkets.”

Both loads were delivered to Care4Calais’s warehouse at Sangatte.

Mr Lansdown added: “I visited the camp after each delivery and in July was pleased to see improvements by the French authorities. During the visits I met young men from many war-torn regions and in July I saw the women and children’ compound and talked to the French gynaecologist.

“During the first visit most young men I talked to were from Afghanistan, in July it had changed to Dafur.

“The volunteers not only working for Care4Calais were mostly young with just a few, less physically able, elderly. Not only do they sort and deliver the aid, they also organise educational and recreational activities for the refugees.

“Claire Moseley, one of the founders of Care4Calais, and who runs the Calais end of their operation was nearly in tears when I spoke to her in July. The strain of the responsibility she had taken on was clearly telling.”

Mr Lansdown will be holding a talk in the Minster Rooms at 7.30pm on August 18. He will be asking for donations to cover the cost of the room.

For more information, call Peter on 01460 54520 or email peter.lansdown@virgin.net.