AN AID worker who was arrested for bringing a young Afghan refugee from a camp in Calais to the UK was in Bolton to show his support for a singer raising money for those who have fled their war-torn homeland.

Rob Lawrie, aged 49, avoided jail after admitting trying to smuggle Bahar Ahmadi into Britain.

The former soldier and father from Leeds was ordered by a French court to pay a suspended fine of 1,000 Euro (£750) for endangering a child's safety last Thursday.

On Saturday, Mr Lawrie was in Bolton to support Alex Brierley from Bolton band Yiyan who performed an acoustic set in the Market Place, including the track Place of Nowhere. All proceeds from the song will be going to UNICEF to help those in Calais.

Mr Lawrie said: “I am feeling better than I was last week. I had known the little girl’s family for a while, and I kept getting asked to take her, I kept saying no, but one day it was bitterly cold and she sat on my knee and I just looked at her and thought I can’t leave you there. I just wanted to reunite her with her family in the UK – I have daughters.”

Alex, aged 18, and Mr Lawrie, who met through contacts, are planning to deliver shoes to the people living in Calais. The appeal for shoes was started by Scrappers star Terry Walker and Alex, aged 18.

Alex, from Horwich, who has visited the camp in Calais, said: “I did not expect Rob to be here, and I am so pleased he is. We are planning to head out and distribute the shoes. Music reaches out to people, those who like it and watch the video and find out more about what is happening, to those who just like the song will be helping by raising money for UNICEF. Since coming back and seeing the children and families – they were so welcoming, one even gave me his coat, they would give me what little they had – I am more passionate about doing more. Now when people say something I will speak up — there are old people and children out there and people my age. We have had a really good response to the appeal. "