A Taunton chaplain is heading overseas to help support refugees and orphaned children.

Mr Mark Wiggins is embarking on a trip to Calais and Dunkirk to help those who have escaped from the war zones in Syria and Afghanistan.

To help him, Skipton Building Society’s Taunton branch have provided 10 sleeping bags, which the society have collected whilst helping Taunton’s homeless people before Christmas.

Mark Wiggins is a supporter of Taunton’s Open Doors charity, which helps homeless people in Taunton as well as the local foodbank.

He said: "I wanted to do something to help these poor refugees and in particular the orphaned children and this kind donation from the Skipton will definitely go some way to providing relief, especially during these cold winter nights."

Mr Wiggins is going to be in France for about a week at both refugee sites and has promised that he will talk and publicise his experiences on his return.

This is so more people in the local area can appreciate what the refugees are living through and how the orphaned children are suffering.

If you would like to help vulnerable people in Taunton, then please contact the Open Doors Charity or the local Foodbank.

For more information on orphaned child refugees, visit www.SavetheChildren.org.uk