When George Galloway called for the people of Bolton to stand-up and be counted even he must have been surprised at the response.

For the people of Bolton were mobilised into action and within minutes two ambulances had been donated, an MOT station offered to service them and a garage offered to service all the Bolton vehicles.

Other pledges made during his fleeting visit included two midwives offering their services to Gaza and donations hit a staggering £16,500. There was even an offer of free use of an office from which to run the administration of the Bolton convoy as well as free design and print services to promote the convoy.

The Galloway event truly captured the moment and the hearts and minds of the people.

Shaz Khan, 40 of Bolton who attended the event said, "George touched everybody's heart strings when he spoke of the plight of the Palestinians and of his aid convoy - we absolutely needed to do everything we could to join the convoy and send a message of hope to Gaza".

Just two weeks later the Bolton convoy numbers ten vehicles including three Ambulances and Heavy Goods Vehicles with the total money raised from fundraising to date standing at just over £87,000 and the total value of large donated items being over £90,000. A local fundraising event held at the weekend raised over £18,000 alone.

The services of a four seater aeroplane has been donated by a prominent businessmen Mr Osman Patel of Bolton and his company Mabco Petroleum.

The aeroplane will form a part of the convoy support team resources which have been setup to support to locally support the Bolton convoy whilst they are on the road and to fly out in case of emergency.

Salim Bhorat who is coordinating the Bolton convoy is delighted with the response in just a few days, "We have mobilised like never before with all communities getting involved, under the banner "With Love from Bolton".

Our convoy carries a variety of items from toys to a barely used generator which can power a small school or small hospital which alone is worth £50,000 and stands at 3metres tall.

“Considering the credit crunch, the people and the businesses who have donated along with the efforts of the volunteers in this huge operation has been astounding - Bolton and Britain should be proud of them.

“The convoy aims to raise the profile of the issue of the economic blockade on Gaza which has been in place for almost two years during which time, the Palestinian people have been left short on food, water, medicines and other supplies to the extent where people were seeking out food in the rubbish dumps. There needs to be an end now to the blockade, to the suffering of the Palestinians and a call for honest efforts for peace".

Channel 4 are making a documenting on the convoy during its journey and Bolton Viva Palestina are also making their own video diary.