A FEARLESS North-East grandmother has supervised the first aid convoy into Afghanistan since America declared war on terrorism.

Hermione Youngs, from Guisborough, east Cleveland, spent her 58th birthday in tense, last minute negotiations to ensure safe passage of her latest batch of desperately-needed supplies.

She then climbed aboard one of the 14 UN aid trucks to transport the clothes, food, medicines, shoes and blankets over the mountains from Pakistan.

Famine-hit refugees call Hermione the "Queen of the Donkeys" - referring to the final two-day leg of the 450 kilometre journey, when donkeys have to be used to carry the supplies along a road wrecked by the Taliban.

"That's Hermione," said David Thomas, her 80-year-old father, who lives in Middlesbrough. "She's a one-off.

"I rang her before her birthday, because I knew she would be busy on the day. She was happy because she was doing what she wanted."

The death of husband Keith, ten years ago, was a turning point for Hermione.

She plunged into voluntary work, being assigned to Afghanistan within weeks of signing on with the Voluntary Service Overseas.

She joined the United Nation's Children's Fund six months ago.

It is her love of children that drives her on to repeat the nightmare journey into Afghanistan, over treacherous mountain passes, perched above sheer drops of thousands of feet.

After ensuring thousands of famine hit Afghan children have a chance to live thanks to her convoys, Hermione is off to New Zealand for Christmas, to visit her elder son, Mark, and his family.

But Mr Thomas has no doubts that after her Christmas break, Hermione will return to her work in Afghanistan.