HOUSING staff in Glasgow collected two tonnes of clothes in just four days for the refugee crisis aid effort.

Glasgow the Caring City charity has organised a collection of clothing and essential supplies to take to camps in the Balkans housing thousands of men women and children fleeing the war in Syria.

James Dorman Cathcart SNP MSP, where the charity is based assisted with the effort contacting Glasgow Housing Association for help.

As well as giving financial help with the cost of transporting the shipment a call was made to the organisations staff for warm clothes for the refugees facing a bleak and cold winter in the camps.

In four days they collected two tonnes, the same weight as a fully grown rhinoceros.

Mr Dornan praised the charity and the housing staff in the Scottish Parliament during a debate on the refugee crisis.

He said: “Four days after the call went out, Ross Galbraith from the charity and I went to pick up the aid donated by the staff. I was stunned that in that short period of time they had donated two tonnes of clothes.

“Huge thanks are due to all those wonderful people who gave so generously.”

Mr Dornan said in total the Caring City charity has collected 70 tonnes of clothes and soap packed and ready to go to Serbia next week.

As well as taking aid to the camps Mr Dornan called on Government to ensure Scotland was ready to accept refugees, with some expected in the city by the end of this month.

He added: “Of course, the work done by charities across Scotland to help refugees where they are stranded across Europe and further afield is only part of all this. We have to be prepared to help when refugees get here. I have been struck by the number of people who have popped into my office offering to help refugees when they arrive. One couple have a spare room that they can offer; and a woman who teaches English as a foreign language wanted to volunteer her time.”

He said more people in need should be welcomed to the UK and Scotland.

He added: “In Scotland, we have the room, the resources and the political and public will to help. I hope that, following that meeting, a broader European strategy can be found that allows us to do even more than we are able to do just now.”

Martin Armstrong, Wheatley Group Chief Executive, said: “We were delighted to take up James’ request for support. Hundreds of our staff across Central Scotland jumped at the chance to help.

“It was an amazing response. Staff from every part of Wheatley got behind the effort, and donated clothes, shoes and other items, including many that were brand new. Our Environmental Teams collected bags from all over Glasgow, as well as offices in Paisley, West Lothian and Edinburgh.

“It created a mountain of clothing in the reception at Wheatley House and was graphic testimony of how our staff had stepped up to the mark to help people in crisis.”

Fiona Hyslop Cabinet secretary for External Affairs said minister, Humza Yousaf, would be visiting Lesbos in Greece this weekend to see the aid effort in action.

She said: “My colleague, the Minister for Europe and International Development, visited Glasgow the Caring City on Monday with James Dornan and was amazed at the generosity that is being shown by members of the public, who have willingly donated what they can to help others who are in need.”