CHARITY workers are heading to Romania this morning for the grand reopening of an education centre funded by Teesside residents.

Hartlepool resident Mike Sumpter is travelling to the city of Iasi as a trustee of the Europe Child Health Organisation (Echo).

People in Teesside have donated more than £15,000 to Echo to refurbish an education centre for children with Downs Syndrome.

The centre was originally going to be for all disabled children, but charity workers soon discovered there were no facilities for Romanian children with Downs Syndrome.

Mr Sumpter said: "It's going to be a place where the children can be educated, and where their carers and parents can be shown how to care for them.

"Two nurses from Stockton are travelling out to give the parents and teachers at the centre a crash course on communicating with the children."

Donations have helped the charity refurbish the existing education centre in the city.

Mr Sumpter said: "Money has come from all over. People have been very generous.

"We are an ongoing charity and this is just one of the projects we will continue to support."

It is hoped the mayor of Isai will meet the charity's representatives and perform an official opening ceremony during their stay.