TODAY sees the final leg of a 450-kilometre mercy mission into Afghanistan led by a North-East woman.

Grandmother Hermione Youngs, 58, of Guisborough, east Cleveland, is already planning a repeat convoy next year - even if coalition forces go to war with the Taliban.

"I'm saying to myself 'never again'. But last night I was already planning next year's,'' said Ms Youngs, leader of the first United Nations Childrens Fund (Unicef) aid convoy into Afghanistan from Pakistan since the terrorist attacks on America.

She has even discussed future plans with the local Pakistan army commander.

"This has become a tradition up here now," said the veteran of several aid convoys, as the first 300 donkeys and horses of the latest trek crossed the border into Afghanistan.

The string of 800 porters and animals heavily laden with clothes, food and medicine, stretched for ten kilometres as it wound its way up the final stretch of a rocky, barren mountain slope on the Pakistan side of the border.

The route took the convoy into the Shah Saleem pass, and down into Afghanistan.

"It is bitterly, bitterly cold," a weary Ms Youngs reported yesterday.

Mountain streams are already frozen in parts, with the onset of winter.

l Anyone wishing to make a donation to Unicef can call 08457 312 312 or log on to the website www.unicef.org.uk.