A SCHOOLBOY is giving up his Christmas to play Santa to Romanian orphans.

Ashley Clough, 14, leaves Britain on December 23, to travel overland to the poverty- wracked country with a lorry- load of presents.

A pupil at Norton School, near Stockton, Ashley is accompanying Convoy Aid founder Rod Jones and his wife, Gabriela, on a Christmas run to the community of Iasi, close to the country's border with Russia.

The adventurous youngster is setting off to Romania with the blessings of his school and classmates.

Fellow pupils are filling as many shoe boxes as possible with sweets, small toys, hats, socks, toothpaste and brushes, wrapped in Christmas paper.

Ashley said: "I have seen pictures and videos taken by Convoy Aid in Romania and conditions do not look very good. I want to make a contribution.

"I will be meeting new people, spending Christmas in the snow, seeing wild horses and carriages - and the smiles on people's faces when we give them their presents.

"It will be the opportunity of a lifetime and an experience. My mum says she will miss me loads, so we will have our Christmas early."

Headteacher Paul Wray said: "Staff and pupils are rallying round to fill as many boxes as possible in the short timescale we have.

"We hope the children in Romania will be pleased with the contents of the boxes and that they help to make their Christmas a happy one."

Mr Jones said he was moved by Ashley's request to see conditions in Romania for himself.

The veteran charity worker said: "I think when Ashley sees how stark the living conditions are out there, it will change his attitude for the rest of his life - as it did mine. He will see things others never will, and which many do not even want to talk about.

"The minority of kids over here who cause nuisance give the rest a bad name. The vast majority are good. There are plenty, like Ashley, who do not get an opportunity to shine."

Ashley does part-time voluntary work in the charity's cafe, in Ramsgate, Stockton.