Living on the rations the world's refugees eat is not something we would normally voluntarily take on.

But an Isle of Wight woman has been doing just that to mark International Refugee Day.

Maria Villa Vine, from Newport, has smashed her £300 target by 1,000 per cent to raise cash for those living in dreadful conditions around the world.

The Concern charity's Ration Challenge raised money that will help save lives by providing emergency food, healthcare and life-saving support.

It involved living on the sort of rations refugees get, for a single week.

Maria told the County Press: "I have now raised more than £3,000.

"It has given me such an insight into how difficult it must be to live on rations as a refugee.

"Obviously I was lucky in the fact that I had a comfortable bed to sleep in at the end of the day, I was not struggling to access cooking utensils to cook my rations with or the fact that I do not live in a war zone and the fear of being uprooted at any time was not a concern.

"But I now understand how restrictive living on a restricted diet which was the same as a Syrian refugee would live on for a week can be and how time-consuming it also is.

"The most inspirational moments for me have been the messages of goodwill from people who have donated.

"The one that really stuck with me was this lovely message: 'As a grand baby of a refugee I wouldn't exist with out the kindness of people like you. Good luck!'. "

If anyone would like to donate go to www.rationchallenge.org.uk/maria-vine