A FORMER Northwich mayor has returned from a humanitarian aid convoy to Europe's poorest country.

Rudheath father-of-four Steve Gough was so moved by the plight of children in the Moldovian region of Ungheni that he volunteered to drive one of the lorries in the humanitarian aid convoy put together by the Communication Workers Union.

Steve, a 52-year-old postman and Northwich town and Vale Royal borough councillor, was helped by the generosity of local people, schools and businesses in his epic trip to a children's hospital, taking items ranging from beds to school bags, toys and writing equipment. Rud-heath High School chipped in a magnificent £500 worth of school equipment after a direct approach from Steve's daughter Elaine, 14.

And Steve, who went with fellow Royal Mail employee Steve Wright, says the two-and-a-half week trip was well worth it. He said: 'The response from people there was absolutely brilliant. They have got nothing and the items we took were desperately needed.

'The trip was massively successful, with two-and-a-half tons of much-needed aid being put to good use. Two things stuck in my mind - the last convoy in 2004 took out equipment for new born babies, and the nurses told me this time that the equipment had saved more than 330 lives in the last year.

'They also took an operating table and the difference between the one the charity supplied and the one they had already was remarkable.'

He thanked a number of organ-isations for their generous donations including: Rudheath High School (£500 in school equipment); Wilkinson home stores; The Shop With No Name, Leicester Street, Northwich (170 school bags, 100 pen sets and four boxes of educational toys); Richard Merritt of Northwich (four boxes of bath towels and hats); Vale Royal Borough Council (200 sketch pads); and Royal Mail which supplied a seven-anda-half-tonne lorry and diesel. nAny clubs or societies who would like a talk about the trip should call Steve Gough on 01606 45836.