A GIFT from Teesside will be at the heart of communities in impoverished Romania.

Small family firm Athenian Marble, of Stockton, is donating six tonnes of imported Italian marble and granite to help the rebuilding of two of the scores of churches destroyed on the orders of ousted dictator Nicvolae Ceausescu.

The stone will be used to build an altar in one church and laid as flooring in another, at the little village of Bivolari.

The stone is being trucked to Romania by the Teesside-based charity Convoy Aid. Its founder, Rod Jones, has undertaken to help in rebuilding work.

Paul Cofinas and his wife, Christine, who own Athenian Marble, heard of Mr Jones's mission and offered to help.

Mrs Cofinas said: "It's nice and lovely to see other people doing good for others and we know what wonderful work Rod is doing out there.

"It's a good cause.

"We did not consider or size up the marble in money terms. We did it to help out somebody who is helping others.

"It is going to a good cause. We said if there is anything more we can do to help, we would.''

Mr Jones said: "To little communities, the church is the focal point and this gift is going to make such a difference to the lives of the people who live there - who hold their christenings, weddings and funerals in the churches.

"A gift like this really renews your faith in human nature."

Mr Jones has been taking aid to isolated communities in Romania for 14 years.