TWO sisters are packing their bags for Jordan to help ease the plight of Syrian refugees.

Issy and Rhiannon Neale, of Natland village, will be working with a church in the northern city of Mafraq, close to the border with Syria, where refugee families are being helped with food, English lessons, children's games and home visits.

Issy spent three weeks at a camp in Greece back in March, helping Syrians through the charity Refugee Support. The 20-year-old told the Gazette she had "absolutely loved" the experience and was keen to do more work with families fleeing the war-torn country.

Through a friend, she made contact with the Alliance Church in Mafraq, which means 'crossroads' in Arabic. Since 2011, when the conflict in Syria began, the church's Pastor Nour has been distributing basic essentials to the refugees that have been seeking shelter in the city ever since, from pillows to gas stoves.

Issy, who attended Queen Elizabeth School, Kirkby Lonsdale with her sister, said there will be many cultural differences to navigate in the Middle Eastern country, as well as "major food and water shortages".

She told the Gazette she was glad that Rhiannon, 21, was accompanying her on the month-long visit and they were both feeling "excited" about setting off on October 12.

"The town that we've chosen, Mafraq, is about 25km from the Syrian border, so there's a lot of refugee families living in the town," said Issy, adding that the huge refugee camp of Zaatari - home to tens of thousands of people - is not far away.

The Alliance Church focuses on registering new refugees in Mafraq, said Issy, as well as giving out food and making home visits. "Part of the Middle Eastern culture is it's really important to be hospitable and welcome people into your home. The church spends a lot of time visiting refugee families and just seeing what they can do to help," she said.

The sisters will be staying at the church, where volunteers are "coming and going all the time", said Issy. She said mum Stephanie and dad David had felt a little anxious about the prospect of the Jordan trip at first, but they had now "come round" and were sharing their daughters' excitement.

The sisters are funding the trip themselves, and they hope to raise £1,500 via their Just Giving page. If you would like to donate, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/izrhi-neale