DORSET'S efforts to support the humanitarian crisis amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine has stepped up a gear as a Weymouth shop owner made his premises available for donations and urged people to give what they can.

Baker Jazro, who runs the Food Plus store in Great George Street, has set up a drop-off point for donations which will be sent to Ukrainians fleeing the conflict.

Mr Jazro, whose wife is Ukrainian, has already arranged for a van full of aid to be sent abroad and is preparing for another load to be dispatched.

It is part of the county's effort to help the people of Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin launched an invasion a week ago.

Up to now, the Prince of Wales School in Dorchester has been the area's main drop-off point for donations and such has been the support locally the school has been overwhelmed with gifts of aid and is accepting no more at this time. This is due to the centre in Bournemouth, where the donations are being sent to, being too full according to Prince of Wales School headteacher, Gary Spracklen.

The 'colossal effort' locally was highlighted to the Ukrainian Ambassador Vadym Prystaiko by West Dorset MP Chris Loder this week.

More than one million people have left Ukraine and sought refuge in neighbouring European countries. Many of the people fleeing are women and children, forced to abandon their homes and loved ones. There are reports of long queues on the border of up to 60 hours in freezing conditions.

In Weymouth, Mr Jazro said he started the campaign after being motivated to help the fellow countryman of his wife Olena, who is from Ukraine.

Both the upstairs and downstairs of the shop is being used to store donations.

Mr Jazro said: "The situation in Ukraine makes me cry.

"My motivation to help comes from my wife being from Ukraine. I myself am Kurdish, and I have experienced war in Iraq before I came to the UK in the early 2000s.

"We've already had one drop-off of donations from our store on the Romanian border.

"I've been informed of the current situation by our driver. It's horrible to hear women and children have nowhere to go in temperatures below minus three degrees.

"We want to do the best we can and hope as many people donate as much as possible."

After completing the first drop-off on the Romanian-Ukraine border, Mr Jazro is planning a second trip a soon as possible.

He added: "Anyone can donate to us. If I cannot find a driver, I will do it myself.

"I think my store will make it easier for people in Weymouth to give what they can as we're located in the town centre.

"Preferable donations should include new cleaning products and new sleeping equipment.

"Another donation which we would urge people to provide is warming clothing and tinned foods."

The Weymouth shop's rally call comes after the landlord of the Shave Cross Inn in Marshwood, Tom Littledyke, arrived on the Ukrainian border this week after leaving Lyme Regis with a van-load of donations.

If anyone would like to donate to the Food Plus, staff at the store are asking for donations to boxed up. For more information email foodplusw@gmail.com