A CHARITY champion is urgently trying to raise £400 to save Christmas for a town of Romanian children.

Hundreds of orphans and children with poor families in the town of Iash, on the Russian border, were eagerly awaiting the arrival of a lorry load of Christmas goodies from Britain.

But instead of being on board a wagon on its way to Romania, toys, medical supplies, blankets and warm clothing will remain in a Teesside warehouse over Christmas.

As highlighted in The Northern Echo yesterday, the haulier who has for years loaned his trucks free to the Teesside charity Convoy Aid, has been stripped of his operator's licence.

He is willing to take the Christmas load to Iash - but needs to raise £1,600, the cost of the ferry charges, diesel consumption, and road taxes for the round trip.

Convoy Aid founder Rod Jones says the charity's 500 volunteers scattered across the UK, could raise most of the money if each donated £3.

But the cost of a newsletter and the postage to contact them all is more than £400 - cash neither he nor the charity has got.

He said: "There is no way I can raise £1,600 on Teesside. The only way is through the godparents, but I have not got the money for the postage. It's too late to ask the council to approve a street collection.

"It is going to be devastating Christmas for all the kids out there who are expecting a lorry to arrive.

" There is extra food for the old people, medicines and warm clothing just sitting doing nothing because of a lack of goodwill this Christmas.''

Anyone who can help Convoy Aid should call Mr Jones on 077 127 00920.