VOLUNTEERS reached a new milestone on Sunday when they completed the 5,000th arrival pack to go to unaccompanied child refugees in London and the South East.

They were joined at the Separated Child Purple Packathon by Mike Freer MP, vice-chairman of the Conservative Party and a number of separated children, including a party from Hillingdon.

Arrival packs make a difference to vulnerable children when they first arrive in the UK from countries affected by war or persecution.

It contains basics like warm clothes, toiletries and underwear.

Volunteers have been preparing packs since 2008, in partnership with Big Yellow Self Storage, the Refugee Council, local authorities and refugee groups.