A group of Alton residents led by Margaret Lockett have so far raised £3,000 in their bid to buy and equip an ambulance for Ukraine.

That was enough to buy a basic second-hand ambulance - but the race is now on to raise sufficient funds to kit it out for a war zone, make sure it is roadworthy and drive it to Ukraine.

Margaret, who has hosted Ukrainian refugees Hanna and Andrii since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022, began the project when American president Donald Trump bullied his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky at a meeting in the White House.

She said: “Living with Hanna and Andrii makes me feel very protective of them, so when another bully – not just Putin - belittles their president, I want to do something to help. And an ambulance feels like a no-brainer.

‘We’ve organised three events – all fun, all local. The first was a packed-out concert in Holybourne Theatre featuring two incredible local bands, an auction and a raffle which raised just shy of £3,000.

“The bands - Cozy and the Dukes and The Kings Pond Shantymen - were amazingly generous, giving their time and tunefulness for free to huge applause on the night.”

The next event will be the Victorian Cricket Tournament on The Butts, on June 22 from 10am until 6pm, at which dozens of Ukrainian refugees will have a stall to sell home-baked cakes, muffins, buns and cookies. Hanna said: “We plan to raise another £2,000.”

And the third event is a party night featuring BandX and the Carbon Copy Party Band at Alton Assembly Rooms on June 27 from 7.30pm.

There will be a bar, pizzas and a Thai food van. Tickets, priced £15, are available from the Newbury Building Society in Alton High Street, Holybourne post office or Margaret Lockett on 07543 125195.