THE ‘magnificent folk’ of Teignmouth have responded generously to the plight of the refugees at Calais.

Organisers of an open meeting on Tuesday to appeal for support and aid were ‘blinking back tears’ at the response, according to Fran Hamilton, one of the coordinators.

‘People of all ages turned up, and it was standing room only at the TAAG centre,’ she said

They listened to local postman Jayne Lenihan’s account of her three working visits to the refugee camp – all in her allocated holiday time.

‘She not only described the horrendous conditions of the camp, but also the extensive journeys and sacrifices the people have been forced to take – many of the children are sent off by their families in the hope that they might survive the hardships, rather than face the ravages of war or being forced into the army or marriage,’ said Fran.