A 13-year-old boy from Great Stukeley has helped some 500 refugees after completing a service project as part of his Scout work.

Cameron Rowley created ‘Rucksacks for Refugees’; a project aiming to give fleeing children necessities for survival, like personal hygiene kits, torches, blankets and a soft animal toy for comfort.

“I really hope that the children who receive these bags get comfort from them and know that we all care about them,” he said.

“I also hope that someday there will not be a need for projects like ‘Rucksacks for Refugees’, but as long as there are people who need help, I want to be a person that helps them.”

In fact, Cameron raised some £3,000 for the project and initially packed 250 rucksacks, but the total was brought up to 500 packages after St Neots Refugee Support matched the number.

Originally from Colorado in the US, Cameron has lived in the UK for three and a half years now and is part of the Boy Scout Troop 245 at RAF Alconbury.

“It was a little scary for me to move to a foreign country and I had my family, a house and all of our possessions. I cannot imagine how frightening it must be for a child who has nothing.”

The rucksacks were delivered to St Neots Refugee Support ready for distribution on March 2.