A WEST Dorset teacher who has been to Calais with a van load of supplies to help refugees is urging others to do the same.

Kitty Forrester, took her seven-month-old son Lars with her on the trip.

Kitty, who teaches at All Saints School in Weymouth, filled her father’s camper van up with supplies and headed for the ferry.

She met with other good Samaritans and together they headed for ‘The Jungle’ to distribute their booty.

Kitty said: “We headed for The Jungle in the hopes that we could drop off all of the belongings we’d amassed, at a central, organised depot.”

They soon discovered there was no such thing.

“We drove round Calais in an increasingly desperate hunt before finally giving up and co-opting a couple of fresh-faced young things into helping us hand out our wares.

“We were unwilling to do this initially because we felt it might end up a rather undignified affair for all involved. However, it went very well indeed.

“We met lots of wonderful people as they came and gathered things that they needed. I weirdly became some sort of fashionista, matching people to clothes “sir, you look absolutely divine in red, you really own this scarf, I simply will not let you leave without it”.

“I have no idea what came over me but I felt I’d found my calling. However, If I go back, it will be with the bags/rucksacs that they were constantly asking for, rather than clothes, and my new found skills as a fashion/style consultant will not be allowed to shine.

“After handing out everything and seeing it all go to good use, we closed the car doors, waved our new friends goodbye.”

A slight altercation with the French police followed after a failure to stop at a Stop sign.

She added: “A fleet of French police descended upon us and demanded my passport and driver’s licence. I had no driver’s licence because “you don’t need to carry one at home” (and in case I was under any illusions, he helpfully pointed out that “I was not in England now, this is France”). Not only did I not have the required documentation but I also had no money on me at all and he was demanding 90 Euros. My actual partner in crime (in the other car) had only 30 Euros. The policeman did some mental weighing up of, on the one hand hassle looking for an ATM (whilst baby minding), with, on the other, the pleasure of booking the stupid English people. With what looked like a unanimous verdict they pretty promptly contented themselves with the 30 Euros we had between us and a finger wag. A rare triumph for disorganisation and poverty, I say.

“Contrary to popular belief, I left home a confirmed unbeliever of any persuasion and I duly returned as one. No-one even attempted to convert me to Islamic Fundamentalism . I wasn't blown up or beheaded; I'm doubtful there were any terrorists there at all. No-one tried to rob me (and I left my wallet, passport and phone out for anyone to take), or hide in my car in an attempt to stowaway.

“It was reassuring to learn that whatever the conditions, people will always make a go of it. The desire to learn, build, bounce babies, chat, create art and have a laugh was never more apparent than among these people we call refugees (but who are of course, just people, like you and me; people who want a chance in life).

“I urge you to go for yourselves and meet these people, talk to them, hear their stories, record their experiences and keep them visible; they are as real and human as the rest of us and in need of our attention.

“Elephantine thanks from everyone in The Jungle for all the donations. But an especial thank you to All Saints school who, at the drop of a disorganised hat, filled my dad’s camper van to over-flowing.”