A RETIRED detective who became an aid volunteer is waiting to hear if he will be able to deliver surgical instruments to a hospital for lepers in strife-torn Burma.

Fred Farley, 67, from Coxhoe, County Durham, who was an inspector in the county's force, is waiting for a visa for his seventh trip to the country, which is run by a military junta and now calls itself Myanmar.

Burma is seeing its biggest public revolt in nearly 20 years.

"I have never had a visa refused before, but with the political situation, you don't know,'' Mr Farley said.

He hopes to visit Burma next month to take four pieces of surgical equipment that will allow doctors working at a Christian-run hospital in the Moulmain area to carry out skin grafts.

Mr Farley pays for the trips himself and has received monetary support for the aid he takes from sources including former police colleagues.

He said: "Many lepers undergo surgery to have legs and fingers removed and, without skin grafts to aid the healing process, their wounds run the real risk of gangrenous infection and that in turn means more surgery."

Mr Farley is also seeking equipment including a dermatome, which removes healthy tissue for skin transplants, and a Humby knife and blades.

He hopes to be in Burma when a visiting Australian surgeon performs an operation on a 12-year-old blind boy. He has paid for the operation and for the boy's parents to be at their son's bedside. Mr Farley will also visit a centre for the blind 200 miles away where music is taught.

"Being able to play a musical instrument will give these youngsters the chance to earn a living when they become adults," he said. "Without these opportunities, they face a life of begging.''

Anyone who wants to support Mr Farley's work is asked to call 0191-377-1810, or send a cheque made out to Appeal for Myanmar BLO to 6 Vicarage Terrace, Coxhoe, DH6 4AN