A seven-year-old has been compared to Mother Theresa after she gathered bags of toys and clothes to send to children in need.

Jessica Marie, who lives in Edgware, was horrified after watching the news and realising children overseas were suffering poverty and living in war zones.

She stood up in front of St Anselm's Church, in Belmont, and asked members of the congregation to help her collect items to donate in July.

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Her mother Tammie said: “I know I am biased, but seeing her do this makes me so proud of my daughter. I think she’s a bit like Mother Theresa.

“She’s all about other people and never thinks of herself. She doesn’t ask for anything – she really is amazing.

“All she wants to do is help those less fortunate than her; for her birthday, she asked for membership of the RSPCA.”

Jessica, a Year 3 pupil at St John’s School, in Stanmore, has collected seven bags of clothes and six boxes of toys since July.

Her friends and family have pitched in by rounding up their old items to donate.

However, she has been unsuccessful in finding a charity willing to take them on.

Her mother added: “Her initial idea was to collect from family and friends and have them shipped over to a refugee camp or an orphanage but I’ve got no idea where to start.

“She doesn’t want them going to a charity shop – she wants them to be used and loved. We’ve tried to contact charities but bur we feel like we’ve had the door slammed in our faces.

“At the moment everything is just gathering up dust and we desperately want it all to go to a new home.”

Do you know of a charity that could use the toys and clothes? E-mail aslater@london.newsquest.co.uk