LORRY loads of much-needed aid has departed from the North-East, bound for the former Soviet republic of Belarus.

A mixture of school and hospital equipment, food, clothing and blankets were in the consignment which has left Easington District Council's headquarters in Easington Village.

The vital aid, mostly everyday items in this country, are all goods which are hard to get hold of in rural Belarus.

It has been donated and collected from churches, members of the GMB Union, as well as from Easington district, Durham city and county councils.

Six volunteers, including GMB members and officials, will take turns to drive the "wagon train" across Europe to the remote Belarus village of Moskovskaya.

The hardy sextet are Peter Rutherford, of Easington District Council, GMB regional official Terry Scarr, plus Paul Casson, Christopher Heath, Graham Strong and Bill Cross, of Sunderland City Council.

All the items collected, apart from the hospital equipment, will be unloaded at the school in Moskovskaya which is attended by orphans.

The hospital equipment is destined for the baby unit of Belarus's only hospital.

Mr Scarr, a 14-year veteran of aid consignments, thanked everyone for their contributions and assured donors that their offerings will go down well in Belarus.

He said: "Be assured, this aid will be well received. It really does make a difference and it makes it all worthwhile when you see how grateful the people are over there.

"The journey should take four days but you never know how long it can take at some of the border crossings."

The lorries will travel via Ijmuiden ferry port in Holland across the Netherlands, Germany and Poland into Belarus