ONE Trowbridge woman has been so inspired by her old school friend’s bid to help female refugees in camps across Europe and the Middle East that she is now launching her own appeal.

Open mic singer Anya Korfanty is staging her bras not bombs gig at the Trowbridge Public house the Stallards.

Her old school friend Caroline Kerr, from Nottingham, set up Bras not Bombs at the start of this year after hearing about the lack of clean underwear in refugee camps.

Anya said: "Caroline told me a volunteer in Turkey told her there were young girls who had been raped and tortured and there was no underwear for them. Others had told me they'd met pregnant women off the boats, sometimes women who had lost their babies in the ocean. She was horrified. It was a eureka moment. She had to act.”

Her friend started a group inviting friend to join calling it 'Bras not Bombs' in reference to Syria being 'bombed into obliteration' at the expense of innocent people.

Now Anya, of Frome Road, is keen to act herself and has organised live music at the pub on Sunday along with a barbecue raising funds for the charity.

She is also launching an appeal for people to donate clean bras for her to send out to these camps.

She said: "Everyone needs clean underwear. A bit of dignity can stop people fighting and feeling so agitated. A lot of the refugees have been the victims of mutilation and torture – girls as young as seven. So, it’s important to make sure everything is soft, and not sexual in any way. Cotton and stretchy is generally best."

Anya said: "I am really pleased the Pub has giving me so much support and have agreed to be a drop off point if anyone wants to donate. Her charity gig is planned for this Sunday starting at two pm running to 10pm with four live music acts during the day."