TWO North-East men have called off plans for a hunger strike in Romania.

Rod Jones, 52, and Stephen Groves, 28, threatened the authorities in that country with starving themselves if they were not allowed access to a children's orphanage where they were refused entry.

Middlesbrough humanitarian Mr Jones has been supplying the orphanage and destitute families in the town of Iash with basic living aids through his charity, Convoy Aid, for the past ten years.

He was accused on his return to Romania last month of stealing children nine years ago.

A girl he removed as a baby from an HIV-riddled orphanage and placed with a Romanian couple has now been removed from the care of foster parents and placed in an orphanage.

A boy brought back to Britain by Mr Jones for a life-saving brain operation has been formally adopted by a Teesside family.

Mr Jones and his wife, Gabby, had an interview with Romania's Child Protection Unit. Mr Groves was later told that the matter had been resolved.

Mr Groves, of Howden-le-Wear, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham, said last night the trio were still being refused access to the orphanage, but had been assured the situation would change next week when the Romanian authorities had drawn up the appropriate paperwork