A charity worker is poised to drive into a diplomatic row.

Rod Jones, the founder of Convoy Aid, hopes to bring a seven-year-old Romanian girl disfigured by burns to Britain for life-saving treatment.

The 55-year-old fears he could be refused entry to Romania in a dispute over the medical treatment Mariana Nechitescu is receiving and how she got the burns in the first place.

The wrangle has gone to Dan Ghinernea, Romania's ambassador to Britain.

Mr Jones and his Romanian wife, Gabriela, a qualified nurse, plan to drive to Romania to bring Mariana to Britain, where she will receive free treatment from plastic surgeon Charles Viva.

Her plight has touched the hearts of people on Teesside, who have given to an appeal launched to help the child.

But Mr Ghinernea said Mr Jones had been fooled into believing Mariana had been set alight by thugs following her father's refusal to turn a blind eye to a theft of timber.

He said Dogariu Gheorghe accidentally set his daughter on fire when he tried to light a fire with gasoline while drunk and that he made up the story in an attempt to get to Britain.

Mr Jones said Mr Gheorghe had no use for gasoline and had not applied to enter Britain.

Only two passports have been prepared, one for Mariana and the other for her mother.

Convoy Aid is supporting Mariana's treatment with £500 a month.