A MIDDLE-AGED charity worker has taken on the mantle of a real live Father Christmas.

Rod Jones, founder of the Teesside charity, Convoy Aid, has just finished a marathon round-Britain drive collecting toys and essential supplies to truck over to needy children in Romania.

Despite a catalogue of health problems, the 52-year-old has slept three nights in the freezing cab of a borrowed lorry travelling between cities and towns as far apart as London, Bristol, Wolverhampton, Blackpool, Tamworth and Edinburgh.

He has clocked up more than 2,000 miles. But his travels are not over yet.

He is driving the gifts to hospitals and orphanages in Romania, to deliver them before Christmas Day.

"You can never have too many boxes. If you have not got something for the last child in the line you have failed,'' said the Samaritan who has been hauling essential supplies to Romania for ten years.

"I would rather have one or two more than I need, than for one child to walk away empty-handed. If that happens you cannot make up for it."

He is also offering to collect shoe boxes of items people may have put together to give to charity.

Mr Jones can be contacted on (07712) 700920.