A GENEROUS freight business has offered its services to help struggling refugees overseas.

South Ockendon-based Estuary Logistics has given up two 20ft containers to help ship goods collected by Southend-based Humanity Washed Ashore. They will go to those in need in Hungary and Malta.

Company owner James Circus was alerted to the work mother-oftwo Elle Beadle was doing in Southend, collecting goodsfor children fleeing in the hope of a better life in Europe .

His wife, Laura, has helped Ms Beadle co-ordinate and collect the donations – anything from toys and clothing, to nappies, milk and toiletries.

Mr Circus said: “We saw the pictures in the media. We’re parents of two young daughters, so it was hard notto be touched by it. You see a lot of things in the news, but that picture of three-year-old Aylan Kurdi lying on a Turkish beach was like ‘wow’, a bit of a game changer .”

What started as one container turned into two, and a third is being paid for byacustomer, according to Mr Circus, though enough donations have come in for three more containers .

Mrs Circus said: “It’s overwhelming, but it’s got huge and the number of people it has touched and ar e contributing isjust amazing.

“It’s been fantastic. So many people have donated good-quality second-hand items, but there’s also been people going out and buying new items, which is just brilliant. It’s all going to be welcomed.”

To find out more and how to help, search for Humanity Washed Ashore on Facebook.