TRIO'S GYM GEAR TRIP FOR INJURED KIDS IN UKRAINE

THREE council workers are to make a mercy mission to war-torn Ukraine to help children recover from horrific injuries suffered during the three-year conflict.

- BY NORMAN SILVESTER

They will drive 1500 miles to the Ukrainian border to hand over specialist gym equipment, including weights and exercise machines, which can aid in their rehabilitation.

The gear will be stored in a warehouse before being delivered another 850 miles to a leisure centre in Ukraine's second biggest city Kharkiv - only 25 miles from the Russian border - which provides treatments for the injured youngsters.

The three men, led by leisure centre manager and Unison union branch official William Shearer, had hoped to deliver the equipment directly but were unable to get the necessary insurance for their lorry due to the daily bomb strikes which Kharkiv residents suffer.

The planned trip follows an earlier fact-finding mission in late September to Kharkiv by William and three colleagues to see how the union could help local people.

There they got the idea for the sports equipment, having seen the work of the Aquarena Sports Centre helping injured children between the ages of eight and 16 - some of whom have lost limbs.