YOUNG people have teamed up to help refugees and asylum seekers feel welcome in Bolton.

A group of 12 youngsters got together to collect as many supplies as they could to make up care packages for asylum seekers and refugees in the area.

The 16 and 17-year-olds worked tirelessly over just three days to gather donations of essentials and wrap them up into shoeboxes for local charities in the field.

Aminata Sow, 22, is part of the seasonal staff at Bolton Lads and Girls Club and helped the young people organise their efforts.

She said: "We've had a few refugees at our groups. The young people felt like they could do something to help out that community."

The group had help from local residents and businesses, which contributed everything from shoeboxes to toiletries. The team wrapped their care packages up in sheets of newspaper from The Bolton News,

Ms Sow added: "It was great, anyone that could donate actually did donate. It was mainly toiletries and sanitary products. We also pens and had 80 books donated from Bolton Market.

"Bolton Lads and Girls Club was a huge support for us and other organisations and independent companies were very generous."

Over the three days, the teenagers collected enough products to fill over 20 shoeboxes, which they then passed along on Friday to local refugee and asylum seeker charities, including Bolton's City of Sanctuary, Bolton Destitution Project and BRASS (Befriending Refugees and Asylum Seekers).

Ms Sow said: "The young people were really happy and very surprised that it went so well and they delivered it. I don't think they knew how much they would be able to get."

Bolton Lads and Girls Club last month announced that it was also collecting for donations to hand out to children visiting its Spa Road centre.