THREE friends in Haydon Bridge have published a poetry book to support victims of the conflict in Syria.

Traces in the Sand is a collection of poems written by Natalie Nera, a native of the Czech Republic, who has lived in Haydon Bridge for three years.

It has been illustrated by visual artists Imogen Mitchell and Victoria Holt.

The three women are all members of the collaborative art group they set-up in Haydon Bridge earlier this year – Edit & Doodle.

Billed as a ‘pamphlet of poems’, the booklet has been named after its title poem, which focuses on the plight and desperation of war refugees.

It will raise money for the Refugees Aid Network (RAN), a UK-based charity which supports victims of the Syrian crisis.

Natalie, a mum-of-two, said: “We saw that RAN wanted people to fill shoeboxes for the refugees this Christmas, but we thought we could do something more.

“We decided to put our creative skills to good use, and we want people to enjoy our booklet and support this very worthy cause.”

Other poems in the booklet depict a variety of themes such as heartbreak, love, friendship, regrets, secrets, and more.

One poem, titled Burn focuses on the River Tyne and refers to the floods of Storm Desmond 12 months ago.

The Edit & Doodle group may currently only have three members, but its long-term aim is to produce more publications, run art exhibitions and workshops, and facilitate creative arts projects in schools.