An initiative by Bushey United Synagogue to help local Afghan refugee families has triggered “overwhelming” support, according to one member of the synagogue. There are 30 Afghan refugee families now in a centre in Bushey.

The synagogue held an open morning on Sunday to ask for donations — but according to synagogue member Hannah Rose, “new volunteers had to be called in to help with the sheer volume of donations of clothing, toiletries and toys for kids”.

Since the take-over of Afghanistan by the Taliban, in the wake of the withdrawal of both US and UK military forces, Jewish communities around the world have been asking how they can help.

Now it is hoped that the Bushey drive will spread to other congregations and that when Afghan refugees do finally arrive in the UK, their most immediate needs, from nappies to winter clothes, will be addressed in full.