AS the world reacted with horror to news of the Paris massacres, aid from Ledbury for the refugees of Calais was arriving in France, by way of a personal delivery by a local couple.

And there is a strong call for local relief help to continue "in the face of terror", despite growing fears that some terrorists may be posing as refugees to cross into the EU .

At the same time, the atmosphere of fear which still exists in Paris was brought into sharp relief by the French-born Ledbury restaurateur, Pascal Clarenne, of "Chez Pascal" in Church Lane.

Ledbury restaurateur, Pascal Clarenne, of "Chez Pascal" in Church Lane, has a niece who lives in Paris and he has been in touch with her, to make sure she is well

Mr Clarenne, who described the murders in Paris as "dreadful and shocking", said his 19 year old niece, Nicole, lives about "half an hour away" from the scene of the attacks.

But she is still frightened because she has to use the Paris Metro every day, to get to her job of work as a medical secretary.

He said: "She is in shock. Life has been difficult there for the best part of a week. She likes to go to restaurants; she used to go all the time, but she won't go now.

"I don't know if life will ever be the same again for anyone out there, and it's bad for tourism. No one wants to go to Paris now." 

Mr Clarenne will hold a minute's silence for the victims of the Paris attacks at 11am on Friday, November 20, and he will ask his staff and customers at the restaurant to pay their respects alongside him.

Members of the Ledbury Refugee Support Group say they are not expecting a local fall in support, or any "knee-jerk negative reactions", over news that at least one of the gunmen in Paris may have come to Europe in the guise of a refugee.

According to a Reuters report: "The holder of a Syrian passport found near the body of one of the gunmen who died in Friday night's attacks in Paris passed through Greece in October."

Speaking on Monday, Ledbury Refugee Support Group member, Jan Long said: "As far as we can ascertain the support from people in Ledbury remains as strong as ever. Indeed just yesterday (Sunday) I helped to load aid that was being taken to Calais by Ledbury couple, Natalie Penny and Doug Tolson. The car roofrack and roof box had been lent for this purpose, and along with much needed blankets, shoes, tents and other items."

She added: "On our Ledbury Refugee support Facebook site, there are huge numbers of supportive comments. We are grateful for the continued support of the compassionate people of Ledbury who have vowed to remain united with us against those who might seek to exploit the situation to spread alarm and anti-refugee sentiments."

Fellow Ledbury Refugee Support Group member, Richard Hadley said: "I do not speak on behalf of anyone else, but I also feel strongly, as someone involved in the Ledbury refugee humanitarian effort, that we as a community must stay strong and keep our courage in the face of this terror. "The actions of one or two extremists make no difference to the wider humanitarian catastrophe which confronts us."

Mr Hadley, a former town councillor added:"Ledbury Refugee Support is a humanitarian, non-political grouping which is collecting supplies and donations to help people fleeing from war and murderous extremism. It is to the children, mums and dads, and grandparents who have lost everything, that we are offering some human kindness, a practical gesture of hope and love for our fellow human beings in distress. We can do no more or less.

"I do believe that the British people will remain defiant that the ideological fanatics will never erode our own human values of tolerance, compassion and kindness. If we stop caring, then the butchers of ISIS will have won. They will have achieved their goal in destroying our way of life."