A SYNAGOGUE near Kingston upon Thames has become a hub for donations by generous residents to a Ukraine relief effort.

Kingston Liberal Synagogue, located next to the borough in Long Ditton, is appealing for locals to donate urgently needed supplies including water purification tablets and baby formula to its appeal.

The synagogue is working closely with Twickenham's Prosperity restaurant, a family-run Ukrainian eatery that is sending vans packed with supplies to the war-torn country.

Its Rabbi, René Pfertzel, recently led a family service in which Beiteinu students recorded a message of love and peace for Jewish communities in Ukraine and Russia.

The synagogue's relief effort is being co-ordinated by Katia, who is from Russia and condemns the country's invasion of Ukraine.

"This war is definitely not in my name. This war is atrocious in every single sense," she told Nub News.

Explaining the donation centre at Prosperity, Katia said: "Volunteers come in every single day to collect items from the very generous public.

"Very very brave drivers take them from the EU to Ukraine."

Katia, who is retired and also volunteers at the Royal Surrey Hospital, drives car loads from the synagogue to the Twickenham restaurant.

The synagogue accepts donations between 12-4pm and 6-8pm on Monday to Friday, and 10am-12pm on Saturday.

The updated list of what is required in the relief effort can be found HERE

Elsewhere in Kingston borough, a Ukraine donation point at St Mark's Church in Surbiton continues to collect donations.

Read more about this separate South London appeal HERE