A VAN of donations have been delivered to Poland by two retired Prudhoe locals.

David Williams and Dave Miller of Prudhoe hired a van from the Enterprise Rent-A-Car business on Scotswood Road, near Newcastle, to transport the donations.

Both members of Prudhoe Golf Club, David said they spend a lot of time at the club and have known each other for a long time.

On Monday, April 4 David and Dave drove to the small town of Marcinkowice, on the border between Germany and Poland. The donations were dropped off Wednesday afternoon at a Polish charity which has been delivering aid to Ukraine, and they arrived back in the UK on Friday, April 8.

"It's quite heartbreaking. We were asked to help take donations directly into Ukraine as they are desperate for English speaking drivers," he said.

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Ant Reed, also a member of the golf club, drove to Poland to deliver a van full of donations in March. 

"Ant's trip helped us out. He gave us advice and helped us avoid the pitfalls he experienced. Ant was the guinea pig - he told us to take an inventory of all our items to help pass through customs quicker," David said.

Prudhoe Golf Club put out an appeal for donations and David said: "The appeal was quite overwhelming."

Items such as medicine, clothing, dried foods and monetary donations for petrol expenses were given. 

David said: "The most touching donation was an old man who came in to the shop and said this was all he had to give, and gave us the last £30 out of his pension to go towards petrol costs." 

"The food contribution specifically was important. They've been opening food banks in the morning and then having to close them hours later because they've been emptied," he added.

David's daughter Rachael said: "I was very proud when Dad said they were going to Poland, it's typical of Dad and Dave to want to help and they were overwhelmed with the donations offered by the local community. And I would like to thank everyone who donated and we hopefully have a further appeal in September."

"We spent weeks sifting through everything. Someone went to great lengths to knit baby clothes and toys, rather than just buying them," David said. 

Cardboard boxes were donated by Prudhoe greengrocers and the Co-Operative.

Dave and David are hoping to return to Poland in September and start the next donations appeal in August.