Women across the borough turned out to donate handbags to homeless women filled with toiletries and other essentials to help them get through the winter.

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'Local business mum' Devenia Besant organised the three collection points in the borough

At three centres - All Things Nice in Ewell Village, Poltsa in Stoneleigh and Handleys in Ashtead - Helping Handbags collected bags, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, sanitary products and snacks on Wednesday.

Mum-of-three Devenia Besant, 37, who organised the local drive, was at the Ewell Village site and she said they had collected 64 bags.

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The business manager said: "It was very successful - we got a lot of great things for homeless women.

"We can’t change their lives overnight but little things like this make a big difference overall.

"Everyone’s got old bags lying in the back of their wardrobe. If you can give it to someone to make their winter a bit easier, then why not do it?"

Donations are still welcome at those points until the end of November, and they will be distributed on Saturday, December 19 across Surrey.

To get in touch with Mrs Besant about donations, she can be contacted at devenia@deveniabesant.com