TRIBUTES have been paid to a North-East charity worker who died while on a mercy mission abroad.

Colin Appleyard, 62, won an MBE for efforts to help thousands of poverty-stricken youngsters in Poland.

His Aid to Poland charity, set up ten years ago with his wife, Gerry, ran hundreds of mercy missions to Polish orphanages and hospitals.

Retired businessman Mr Appleyard, who lived in Darlington, died suddenly last week while on his latest trip to the eastern European country.

It is believed his body is being flown back to the UK in preparation for a funeral service later this week.

Mr Appleyard ran a successful haulage business, with branches across the North-East, before his retirement.

It was while on a holiday in Poland with his family that he was taken aback by the conditions suffered by many children.

This led to the setting up of the Aid to Poland charity - based on Teesside - which began carrying food, clothing, toys and medicine to the country.

Thousands of tonnes of aid has since been taken to all areas of Poland, with a link being formed with the Polish equivalent of the Salvation Army.

Trips funded by Lions' clubs across County Durham, Teesside and North Yorkshire, have also taken place to bring youngsters to the UK for holidays.

Mr Appleyard was a prominent member of the Thornaby and Yarm Rotary Club, having been a past president.

Eight years ago he won Rotary International's highest honour, the Service Above Self Award, for the Polish aid convoys.

Jerry Burnett, of the Thornaby and Yarm Rotary Club, who had known Mr Appleyard for 25 years, said: "This has been a terrible shock to the whole club.

"Colin was one of the most compassionate people I have ever met and was one of the earliest members of the club.

"Once he gave up his business he devoted his life to the Aid to Poland charity. Nothing was ever too much trouble to him.