DOZENS of boxes of sanitary products are being given away for free across Birkenhead in a bid to eradicate period poverty.

The Pink Box Campaign’s aim is to have these products available in every school, youth club and community house in the Wirral area.

It’s all been run using social media, with people asked to give money via donation points across Birkenhead.

The group behind the campaign wants to eradicate the community’s period poverty caused by austerity, and says 40% of girls in Birkenhead can’t afford sanitary products.

Wirral Cllr Moira McLaughlin, who represents the Rock Ferry ward, has been involved and is firmly behind the campaign.

She said: “Period poverty is a significant problem in areas like Rock Ferry and Birkenhead.

"With families struggling massively with Universal Credit and low incomes this means that 40% of young women can’t afford to buy sanitary products.

“I know all the schools in my ward have said how welcome the Pink Box Campaign is.

"I hope people will get behind this grass roots campaign to try and tackle the problem.”

A total of 50 boxes have now been delivered and the group says the next stage will be to map usage and help identify areas and level of need, as well as to look at the long-term sustainability of the project.

Businesses were also asked to sponsor a box or refill one for £10.

Staff teams in Nando’s, Specsavers and other organisations donated items and the group has had donations sent from as far afield as Yorkshire.

The group will also be writing to Prime Minister Theresa May to ask whether some of the proceeds from the tampon tax could be used to finance a programme like this across the country.

A spokeswoman for the campaign added: “Period poverty isn’t something that people like to talk about... However, every school and organisation we’ve spoken to, even the primary schools, have said girls are asking for sanitary products and the pink boxes will be very welcome.”