The hashtag #fiftypeesforrefugees has called on social media users to donate the new coins to charity

A social media campaign has been launched to donate new coins released to mark Brexit to refugee charities.

Three million commemorative 50 pence pieces are set to be released this Friday (31 January), to tie in with Britain leaving the European Union.

The coins bear the inscription "Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations".

And a campaign has been launched calling for the coins to be donated to charities that support refugees.

The hashtag #fiftypeesforrefugees appeared on twitter with users encouraged to donate any coins they receive to organisations such as the Scottish Refugee Council.

Sabir Zazai, chief executive of the Scottish Refugee Council, said: “The commemorative coin promises peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations. I came to the UK seeking peace, prosperity and friendship, and have been lucky enough to find it, yet we are now seeing refugee rights being voted and eroded away. We can’t have peace, prosperity and friendship in word only. We need action. We are grateful to those who have said they will donate their 50ps to us and to other refugee support organisations across the country – goodness and hope prevails, even in the most uncertain and worrying of times.”

Chancellor Sajid Javid had first ordered production of the coins in advance of the UK's original 31 October departure date.

But the Brexit delay meant about a million coins had to be melted down and the metal put aside until a new exit date was confirmed.

You can donate to the Scottish Refugee Council online.