KIND Boys' Brigade members and their families have despatched vanloads of vital aid to Ukraine - with some help from a local firm.

In a huge community effort launched from their base in the Lyle Kirk, the 1st Greenock Company and their parents set up an appeal after being shocked by the events unfolding in the eastern European country.

Within hours tonnes of vital donations including medication, sleeping bags and warm clothes were pouring into the church.

The boys were delighted when family firm Dallas Carpets stepped in to help out transport the goods to a distribution hub.

One of the organisers, Olga Darroch, whose teenage sons Ross and Jonathan are in the BB, said: "We were overwhelmed by the response - we had three vanloads, there were hundreds and hundreds of donations.

"There was no room left at all in the church.

"The boys helped sort them all out into bags and we sent them over to the hub at Cathcart House.

"We would like to thank Dallas Carpets, who stepped in to help move all the donations from the church to the hub.

"Not only did they give us transport, they sent over a team to help too and we couldn't have done this without them.

"It has been a tremendous effort - people have been so generous."

In the end some of the donations were handed to the Inverclyde Foodbank due to the sheer volume.

Olga, who has been involved in a number of efforts to help the Ukrainians, added: "There was just so much and due to the logistics it can't possibly all get over to where it is needed in time."

Junior section officer Karen Glen said: "This was a great way for the boys to help and in-keeping with the values of the Boys' Brigade, which is to think of others and to help others.

"It gave the boys the chance to reflect on how lucky we are to live here and how privileged we are.

"We would really like to thank Dallas for all their help."

Dallas Carpets owner Billy McKechnie said his team were only too pleased to lend a hand.

Billy said: "We were delighted to help with local efforts for the Ukrainians.

"I think we have all been moved by the images on our TV screens and we all want to help."