Karol Swiacki, who launched the Help from Bournemouth to Ukraine project in February to appeal for donations, has said that the group are “saving lives and fighting the evil with hope”.

The group has been operating from a warehouse in Castlepoint shopping centre where volunteers are working daily to sort through thousands of donated goods.

A second warehouse at Bournemouth airport was secured by Bournemouth MP Tobias Ellwood last week and has become a storage facility for donations ahead of their shipment.

It has been more than four weeks since the appeal for donations was launched by Karol.

He said: “We counted 760 pallets of donations all together (since the appeal started).

“So far we have sent 180 pallets to Poland and Ukraine.”

Haulage and warehousing company Wyvern Cargo have been helping to transport the pallets between the Castlepoint facility and the Bournemouth airport warehouse. The deal was struck by Verwood councillor Shelly Rose who wanted to help speed up transportation for the group.

The group have also seen support from ferry operators Stena Line, who have been taking the donations to Holland for onward shipment, and travel company TUI who have discussed the possibility of an aeroplane being provided to the group.

Karol said: “This is turning out to be huge. Its unbelievable.

“I’m very tired but having all this support makes you want to keep going.”

Support from outsiders and volunteers has meant that the ongoing project can operate more efficiently.

Karol added: “People are adapting to the situation, and it is all more organised.

“Logistically we are almost perfect.”

• Read more: Tobias Ellwood meets the 'army of hope' behind Ukraine donations

From Tuesday, the Help from Bournemouth to Ukraine organisation will also begin sending donations to Hungary, since the country has seen an influx of refugees fleeing Ukraine.

The group also plans to offer donations to UK households who take in refugees as part of the governments ‘Home for Ukraine’ scheme.

Donations and volunteers are still being welcomed at the Castlepoint warehouse.

• Read more: Medical goods donated to Castlepoint arrive in Ukraine

Karol said: “I really want to thank Tobias Ellwood and Steve Brine for securing the warehouse at the airport, and Tim Etches the operations director there.

"I also want to mention Shelley Rose, Wyvern Cargo, Simon Palmer at Stena Line, the Polish Embassy, management at Castlepoint, Mark Cribb who helped with the graphics for the group, Daniel Sulimierski who has managed transport, my Polish community, and just everyone else involved.”