Mongolia journey may prove a riot

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Sergeant Sean Edwards based in Newcastle Emlyn is one of the officers driving the van to Mongolia

A decommissioned riot van is being driven 10,000 miles from west Wales to be handed over to police in Mongolia.

Police sergeant Shaun Richards from Newcastle Emlyn is being joined by three friends for the month-long trip.

They are raising money for the special care baby unit at West Wales General Hospital in Carmarthen before donating the vehicle.

The 1990s riot van worth around £800 is no longer used by Dyfed-Powys Police but still has cells and a radio.

Sgt Richards said the force usually auctioned off its old vehicles but the chief constable had agreed it could be handed over to a police force in Mongolia.

"They will then give a donation to a charity that stops child prostitution and trafficking and they of course will use the van because they don't have a great deal of resources there," he said.

Baby unit

"It looks like it's been through two world wars but it's mechanically sound and the radio works. It's the last one in the force of the 1990s look."

Sgt Richards and friends will be using annual leave for the 10,000-mile (16,000 km) adventure which will take then them through 11 separate countries.

All the money they raise will go to the baby unit.

"It is going to take us a month, we are camping all the way with tents," he added.

He has already raised £7,000 for the unit which cares for almost 200 premature and sick babies every year.

Sister Karen Jones said: "We are very grateful for every penny raised for us and we wish Sergeant Richards all the best in his fundraising adventure."

Funds raised for the unit have been used to fund equipment such as incubators, ventilators and infusion pumps, as well as to decorate nursery and family areas and provide additional specialist training for staff.