A FIREfighter's latest mercy dash took him thousands of miles from the station where he is based.

Thornaby-based Andy Laing answered a summons for help from a remote community in Uganda, Africa.

An electrician by trade, the 44-year-old father-of-two was moved by a plea by US missionaries for help to bring electricity to the New Hope orphanage, which houses 450 children, many the victims of Aids and casualties of war.

"The whole experience was amazing," said Mr Laing, who recently returned from Africa.

"It was a challenge to work in 35 degrees and not always have water for a shower.

"We worked all hours to get the job done, but everyone at New Hope was so cheerful, grateful and helpful that we couldn't fail to be impressed and inspired to do a good job.

"Education is the greatest goal for everyone there and having electricity in the school was so important because it meant they could study after dark."

He and five other volunteers shared one room with no hot water and no electric lighting until the end of their work.

"We worked long hours and were usually too tired to do much more than have a meal and a shower before going to bed most nights, but it wasn't all work.

"We did get to go on safari for a couple of days and one of the most memorable sights of the trip was the view from our hotel overlooking the Nile where we could see hippos bathing just a few feet away.''