UKRAINIAN fruit pickers who arrived at a Worcestershire farm 'in clothes they were standing in' fear for family back home.

The group of 15 fruit pickers from Kyiv arrived at Vicarage Nurseries in Bretforton, near Evesham, just two days before Russia invaded their country.

Julija Rucinskiene, from Ronkswood, Worcester, was introduced to the group of three women and 12 men by her father-in-law.

She has been organising collections of waterproof jackets, wellies and warm clothing for the group as well as helping them find out about claiming refugee status as they cannot return home.

"They arrived two days before the war started and came in with pretty much what they were standing in.

"They don't have much at all.

"They came over to do seasonal work in farms just before the war started but they don't have anywhere to return to now."

Plea for warm, waterproof clothing for Ukrainian

Mrs Rucinskiene, who is from Lithuania and moved to the UK in 2010, was introduced to the group by her father-in-law.

He was speaking to two other Ukrainian men at his job in a warehouse who told them about the group's plight.

Her father-in-law organised a meal at his Worcester home for three of the group and invited Mrs Rucinskiene to meet them yesterday (Sunday).

"I have been talking to them and they are very stressed and depressed.

"A couple I was talking to are in their 50s and have adult children younger than me in Ukraine who are trying to escape the war.

"The very least I can provide clothes so they can work in the fields and be dry as that's all they are asking for currently.

"My mum is Ukrainian and I have relatives in Kyiv in their 60s and I don't know what's happened to them.

"When everything started I was in Lithuania and I couldn't sleep for three nights.

"To see people killed and dying is incredibly sad."

She was donated 40 jackets and is not looking for any more donations at the moment.

Meanwhile, Evesham Rowing Club is running a sponsored 24-hour ergo starting at 9am on Saturday, March 19 to raise money for The British Red Cross DEC Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

Club members will be outside the rowing club on the banks of the Avon. At the moment 63 rowers of all ages will be taking shifts to keep three rowing machines spinning for the 24 hours.

The club has already raised just over £1,000.