Norfolk MP James Wild and boxing champ Amir Khan help build Ukrainian child refugees' playground in Poland

North West Norfolk MP James Wild has been in Poland helping to build a Ukrainian child refugees' playground with two-time world boxing champion Amir Khan.

On Saturday Mr Wild was at Koscierzyna, in the Pomeranian region on Poland’s border with Russia, under the watchful eyes of Vladimir Putin’s checkpoint guards.

This was part of Project Maja, a social action project which MPs and others took part in, to build a playground for a Ukrainian orphanage that relocated to Koscierzyna.

The project was made possible thanks to support of the Amir Khan Foundation, the Bolton-born champion’s charitable arm.

Mr Wild said: "It was a sign of Amir’s commitment that he was alongside us digging out the earth and helping install the equipment. When the work was complete it was lovely to see the children enjoying it – laughing and playing."

The Member of Parliament also met families being hosted by Caritas, a Catholic charity.

He said: "The generosity of the hospitality offered to the Ukrainian refugees was humbling.

"Listening to their experiences, the impact and trauma of fleeing from the war was obvious, and the songs from home they sang were incredibly moving."

Poland has given sanctuary to more than 2.5 million Ukrainian people fleeing the Russian invasion.

The Pomeranian region alone has taken in 60,000 refugees, mainly women and children. Some are in private homes; others in student accommodation, and are helped with education, jobs and financial support.

"Part of the reason for this visit was the desire from Polish people we met to share the examples of the generosity they are showing and to highlight the scale of the refugee crisis they are facing," Mr Wild added.

"We should be doing all we can to support Poland and other neighbouring countries hosting so many refugees who want to remain close to Ukraine.

"The refugees we met want the war and destruction to end and to be able to return home."