Convoy heads to Albania with aid

The convoy is due to arrive early on Thursday morning

Thirty tonnes of humanitarian aid collected in the East Midlands has left for Albania.

Two lorries are heading for eastern Europe, with items donated by people around the region.

The lorries left Mansfield Civic Centre at midday on Sunday are due to arrive at Durres in Albania early on Thursday.

The mission comes in the 14th year of the work of the Nottinghamshire Police Aid Convoy charity, and is the 20th members have left together as a team.

The charity started in 1993, when police sent aid to parts of war-torn Yugoslavia that others could not reach.

Since then, they have taken aid to Kosovo, Albania, Romania and Russia.

Charity founder and chairman said this year's convoy would be taking clothing, bedding, shoes, books and computers - items not available to people in desperately poor parts of Albania.

"These people will only have one set of clothes for all day every day, so to provide it in the quantities we do is a lifesaver," he added.

The youngest team member of the team is Duke of Edinburgh award candidate Will York, 17, from Ravenshead, who has a web log so people can follow the journey.