A CHARITY director's hopes of bringing Christmas cheer to Romania has been hit by a Home Office wrangle.

Inmates from Kirklevington Grange, in Yarm, the north of England's only resettlement jail, were sent to help load a Convoy Aid lorry being sent to Romania this Christmas. But they were withdrawn after only three days without explanation, said the director of the charity, Rod Jones.

The 55-year-old is convinced that his distant past as a high security Category A prisoner is the reason for the men being taken off the work.

But the Home Office has denied his claims. It said the prisoners were needed elsewhere and promised to review the situation in the New Year.

Mr Jones has protested to the prison governor at Kirklevington and has received a visit from two senior prison officers who are investigating his complaint.

He said: " What other possible reason could there be, when I have been told Kirklevington are desperate to find work placements for the inmates and they can never find enough? It's disgusting.

"I have been out of trouble for 20 years,'' said the charity worker, who has been transporting essential aid to Romania for about 14 years.

The charity run by Mr Jones depends on a constant supply of volunteer labour to load lorries with supplies.

A Home Office spokesman said the situation might be reviewed in the New Year, although he denied that Mr Jones's criminal past was the reason why inmates were taken off the Convoy Aid placement.

He said inmates were taken off work placements to assist with work needed to be done at the prison.

The spokesman said: "The fact he may have been convicted in the past was not relevant to using him as a suitable placement. There is a plan for a further meeting."

Mr Jones said he was unaware about talks in the New Year.

He said: "I feel very bad about it. They cannot convince me that this has noth-ing to do with my previous record.

"This would be a good placement for the lads and give them a big boost knowing they were helping others.''