Syrian refugee puppet 'Little Amal' arrives in the UK

Watch: Little Amal arrives in Folkestone

A giant puppet of a refugee child has arrived in Folkestone today (19 October) along with a Hollywood star.

Twelve foot tall 'Little Amal' is on a five thousand mile journey from Turkey to Manchester to highlight the plight of young asylum seekers.

Amal has brought together celebrated artists, major cultural institutions, community groups and humanitarian organisations along the way.

Hollywood actor Jude Law was also there to show his support for the creative project.

He said: "It's such a stroke of genius in how it would combine street theatre and celebration with awareness raising and, in many ways I suppose, contact across all these countries and I was thrilled to be asked to support it, which I've been doing over the last few months."

"I'm even more touched to be asked to be here today and welcome Little Amal to the shores of the UK here in Folkestone."

To welcome Little Amal to Folkestone, Creative Folkestone and Folkestone Fringe gathered a mass of choirs and singers to sing a specially composed song of welcome.

Watch: Singers welcome Little Amal to Folkestone

Little Amal will visit Canterbury, London, Oxford, Coventry, Birmingham, Sheffield and Barnsley before she reaches Manchester on 3 November.