A Keighley councillor has praised townspeople for their generosity in giving aid for Syrian refugees.

Abid Hussain also paid tribute to members of Keighley project Al-Hikmah who collected the much-needed items.

Al-Hikmah volunteers set off last week from their Utley base with the first consignment of boxes for the conflict zone.

Coun Hussain, who represents Keighley Central on Bradford Council, went along to watch hundreds of boxes being loaded by more than 40 young people. He said: “It was amazing. I’ve never seen anything like this in 45 years in Keighley.

“There was a big trailer full of food, blankets, medicine and clothes. It took two weeks to pack.”

Al-Hikmah is taking the donations to the Keep Warm appeal to help some of the millions of people made destitute by Syria’s bloody civil war.

Fighting that began in 2011 has so far claimed around 130,000 lives and left more than eight million displaced.

Coun Hussain said that Al Hikmah planned to send another two trailers to Syria and that more donations would be needed.