The first lorry loads of aid have left Jersey following an 'overwhelming' response to an appeal coordinated by the polish community.

Three trucks set off this weekend on the ferry to France.  A further four or five will leave next weekend.

Volunteers have spent days sorting through mountains of bags and boxes of clothes, bedding, toiletries and other supplies donated by the people of Jersey.

Collections started on Tuesday (1 March) after the Polish Consul began co-ordinating a local response to the aid effort for the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian nationals fleeing to neighbouring countries because of Russia's invasion.

People and local businesses quickly began rallying to give items at the Town Hall and at parish halls across the island.

Collections for #Ukraine are continuing at the Town Hall and parish halls across Jersey. This was the scene at the end of day 2 @StSaviourJersey parish hall. pic.twitter.com/u7ozn7cHfm

— Channel 103 (@Channel103) March 2, 2022

The UN Refugee Agency says the number of refugees escaping the conflict has reached 1.5 million.

It says Europe's experiencing an "unbelievable humanitarian crisis", and that Poland alone could pass the 1 million mark this weekend.

Polish Consul Magda Chmielewska told Channel 103 she has been overwhelmed by the support shown, both in donations of items and people volunteering to help prepare the donations for shipment to the continent.

"I never ever envisaged that people would be so generous.  I knew Jersey would be generous - I have lived here for 20 years so I know how kind people are - but I never envisaged people would be this generous."

Magda says, as well as the aid going to the Poland-Ukraine border, they are working on delivering to the refugees crossing into Romania.

We have four lorries coming to pick the goods up from St Malo next Saturday and we will be deciding this week - finding links in Romania - how we can possibly donate some of the goods to Romania.  I have got a link, I just need to work on it."

Appeal organisers have been documenting the tremendous efforts of the Jersey community on their Polish-Jersey Help for Ukraine Facebook page:

"We're updating the public updated with what is happening with those goods that were donated and are still in Jersey.  I'll keep the public posted with the movements of those kindly-donated goods."