ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

Londoners are donating their unwanted coats at Tube stations to help the homeless, refugees, elderly and families in need this winter.

The annual campaign Wrap Up London launched this morning, with commuters handing in 250 bags of coats at London Underground stations around the capital.

Now in its eighth year, the collection - organised by charity Hands On London and William Blair - takes place until Wednesday at six Tube stations and Broadgate Welcome Centre.

There will also be collections at Safestore locations and at the Queen Elizabeth II centre in Westminster from November 13 to 23.

Pictures shared on social media showed volunteers carrying sackloads of coats donated by commuters on Monday.

Hands On London chief executive Jon Meech told the Standard the first day of the campaign had been "amazing" with donations pouring from 7am.

He said: "We had 20 to 30 volunteers at the Tube stations today. We were still putting our T-shirts on and people were donating coats.

"It was such an amazing experience. Everybody was in a hurry to get to work but still took the time to donate a coat."

Coats will be distributed via around 120 London-based homeless shelters, refugee centres, organisations supporting the elderly, women’s refuges, children’s centres and other charities helping people in crisis, Mr Meech said.

Last year 52 per cent of collections went to homeless people in London. The charity expects similar figures this year.

Coats and jackets "of all weights” are accepted, but heavy duty coats that are weather resistant are preferred.

Hands On London said it does not directly distribute coats to those in need because it wants charities to create lasting relationships with these people.

On the campaign website it writes: “Wrap Up London don’t distribute the coats to those in need directly, because we want to help charities create lasting exchanges with those they set out to help.

"So when a vulnerable Londoner reaches out to a charity for a coat this winter, they will also discover the other resources and forms of support available to them."

Where and when to donate your coat Tube Stations Collections will take place at six London Underground stations from November 12 – 14 (7am -11am). Canary Wharf – At the bottom of the main escalators into the station (opposite Reuters) in front of a pillar. Kings Cross – At the north entrance to the tube station off Pancras Road, in the Northern Ticket Hall. Liverpool Street – Inside the London Underground entrance next to Costa Coffee and behind the NatWest ATMs. (Closest entrance on Liverpool Street) London Bridge – By the main pillar in the middle of the tube station foyer. We are opposite the Jubilee Line gates. Victoria – At the bottom of the stairs by the underground entrance (use one of the “original” entrances just outside the main station) Waterloo – At the entrance to the Jubilee line off Waterloo Road or down the escalator opposite platform 5 in the main station. By Lola's Cupcakes. Broadgate Centre, Broadgate Volunteers will be at Broadgate Centre November 12 – 14 (9am – 5:30pm). Queen Elizabeth II Centre, Westminster Volunteers will be at the QEII Centre November 13 –16, 19 –23 (9am – 5pm). Safestore Locations Volunteers will be at Safestore locations around London November 13 – 23. Chiswick – Nearest stations: Gunnersbury tube, Chiswick national rail station Clapham​ – Nearest stations: Clapham North tube, Clapham Highstreet national rail station Notting Hill – Nearest stations: Ladbroke Grove tube, Holland Park tube Kings Cross – Nearest stations: Angel tube, Kings Cross/St Pancras tube and national rail station Collect Plus Send coats in the post to Chiswick Safestore by November 23. Chiswick Safestore 22 Sutton Lane North, Great West Road, Chiswick, W4 4LD

Wrap Up collections run simultaneously in Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Newport and Lancashire.

Find out how to volunteer here.

Hands On London offers opportunities for individuals to volunteer with third sector organisations across Greater London and organises corporate group employee volunteering events, strengthening corporate social responsibility initiatives.