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More than 150 British cyclists set off on a ride to Calais on Saturday to donate bicycles to migrants in the camp dubbed the Jungle.

Around 5,000 people, many from war-torn Syria, Libya and Eritrea, live under tarpaulin shelters in desperate conditions in the makeshift camp, which lies around a mile outside Calais.

Volunteers are donating bikes and supplies to the migrants, who they say have been vilified by some in Britain but urgently need support.

(Image: BBC)

Rosie Strickland, 29, who runs a community bike workshop in Machynlleth, Mid Wales, is among those travelling to France over the Bank Holiday weekend.

(Image: BBC)

She said: “There’s between 100 and 150 of us and the atmosphere is really good, positive and calm. Everybody is looking out for each other.

(Image: BBC)

“We set off from Barnehurst in south east London at around 12.20pm and are heading towards Ashford to camp for the night.

“We’re making lots of stops en route for food and bike fixing.”

(Image: BBC)

The volunteers made their own plans to get down to France after the “solidarity bike ride” was organised on social media as part of the Critical Mass cyclist movement.

(Image: BBC)

They intend to meet up at the Medicins du Monde “hospital” at the camp on Monday afternoon before handing the bikes over, writes Karen Rockett in the Sunday People.

Critical Mass cycling events started in the USA in the 1990s and have been described as “monthly political-protest rides”.