A Kenley mum is to send thousands of second-hand shoes to Syrian and Iraqi children languishing in refugee camps.

Camilla Bowry, 35, will despatch shipments of footwear to four camps in northern Iraq, where families living in "horrific" conditions, through her charity Sal's Shoes.

She founded the charity two years ago after finding her son Salvatore, now five, had outgrown "a bag full" of shoes.

The mum-of-two, known as CJ, will send about 1,000 donated pairs of shoes to the camps at the end of this month and hopes to despatch several further shipments before the end of the year.

The camps are inhabited by hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees and Iraqis displaced by war and violent extremists.

Ms Bowry, of Hayes Lane, said: "The living conditions in are really quite horrific. These kids are living in squalor and they're barefoot on rough terrain, seeking shelter wherever they can, and unfortunately once the cold sets in there will be snow.

"We are really fortunate that we get such good quality shoes. Generally kids wear their winter boots for a couple of months then by the time we get the bad weather again they've outgrown them. 

"All the winter footwear that comes in for the rest of the year we are going to send to them."

Since it was founded, Sal's Shoes, named after Ms Bowry's son, has sent nearly 20,000 shoes to people in 15 overseas countries, including migrants in Calais and orphanages in South Africa, as well as to vulnerable mums in the UK.

Ms Bowry, who also has a two-year-old daughter, Clementine, said: "I started it because very quickly after my son started walking two years ago I had accumulated a bag full of his shoes that he had outgrown that really hadn't been outworn.

"There are charities that you can send shoes to but when I contacted them they couldn't tell me exactly where they would end up. That really bothered me, because I think you do have to be accountable.

"I don't know if it was sentimental because they included by son's first pair of shoes. 

"So I thought I would just do it myself, and then I know where every single pair of shoes goes."

The charity accepts donations of any children's shoes but is particularly appealing for winter shoes to send to refugee camps. 

Shoes for donation can be posted or delivered to: Sal’s Shoes, Suite 77, Maddison House, 226 High Street, Croydon, CR9 1DF. 

Sal's Shoes also lists alternative collection points on its website. 

The charity is also looking to move to new premises for storing, sorting and packing the shoes. Anyone with a suitable building - which needs to be secure and accessible - should email info@salsshoes.com