A MERCY mission to deliver food, clothes, medicines and a fire engine to the people of Chernobyl has been scuppered by red tape.

But Ukraine’s loss is Romania’s gain, as the much needed aid will go there instead.

Leaders of the GMB union in the North-East have been transporting vital supplies to Chernobyl since shortly after a nuclear accident irradiated the area in 1986.

This year, the County Durham and Darlington Fire Authority had also agreed to donate a fire engine.

But the mercy mission has been scuppered by new rules which prevent shipments of food or toiletries.

And when local officials in Chernobyl found out they were getting a fire engine, they had the audacity to ask for £2,000 – so it could be converted to left hand drive.

Just days before the aid convoy was due to leave, union officials were forced to re-think their plans – and decided to revive an old link with a charity in Romania, instead.

Senior organiser Terry Scarr said: “It’s disappointing.

We were all geared up to go to Chernobyl. Unfortunately, it’s the general public of Chernobyl who will miss out. It’s just red tape.”

Mr Scarr and three others start their 14-day excursion to Romania tomorrow, driving two lorries full of aid and a K-registration Dennis fire engine, from County Durham and Darlington Fire Authority to North Shields, North Tyneside, to board a ferry.

They will visit two orphanages, a hospital and a school in Bacau, before leaving the fire engine with the local fire service.

The aid includes food, clothes, household items, sporting and medical equipment collected by churches and schools across the North- East. It will be distributed through a children’s charity.

Mr Scarr said: “We are going to the poorest part of Romania and all the aid we are taking is the aid they said they needed.

“They’re so excited – they’ve been emailing every day of the week.

“They seem happy to put up with the fire engine being right-hand drive. They’ve got a fire station, but it’s got no fire engine. However, we would like to go back to Chernobyl – if we can get the laws relaxed.”

John Adamson, from the County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We have just taken seven new engines and we would normally put this engine into the second-hand market.

“It’s nice to know one of our engines is not only getting a new life, but will be saving more lives over in Romania.”

* Pictured; Norman Ramsey, fleet manager for Durham County Council, left, with vice-chairman Councillor Mac Williams, from Durham County Council, second left, and John Adamson, director of operations for Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, right, present the keys of the two lorries and fire engine to Terry Scarr, senior organiser for the GMB trade union.