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A group of volunteers from Crawley have organised the delivery of a ex-Post Office van containing 3.2 tonnes of aid to Ukraine.

Aivaras Nesvarbu and Oleg Prockiv drove the van more than 4000 miles to deliver the goods - with the pair leaving Crawley on Thursday (April 7) and arriving into Ukraine on Saturday (April 9).

Vlad Babych with Bohdan Mihajlishin and Aivaras organised the trip, the collection of the aid through Facebook, and with help of some friends purchased the ex-Royal Mail van to transport the goods and donate the van itself.

Aivaras Nesvardu and Oleg Prockiv drove the van more than 4000 miles to deliver the goods - with the pair leaving Crawley on Thursday (April 7) and arriving into Ukraine on Saturday (April 9).

Oleg Babych, Vlad's father, was also helping to deliver into the aid when the van arrived into East Ukraine.

Vlad Babych said: "When Aivaras called me at the start of April and said, Vlad I just came from Ukraine, saw all devastation in my own eyes and want to deliver help to people into their hands as far as possible, I knew that I have to do everything that I can to help with organising and finding all resources needed for this mission.

"All the goods and packages were delivered and distributed directly to people in areas of Ukraine where very little support can physically get and the ex-Royal Mail van donated people in Ukraine"

The group managed to deliver tactical equipment - such as radio walkie talkies, tactical boots and night vision devices - to Ukrainian Ground Forces in the Sumy Region - the north-east of the country.

The van had broken down shortly after crossing the border into Ukraine, but they were able to get all of the aid into another van and complete the trip.

Goods - such as food, hygiene products and clothes - were distributed to residents of the cities of Trostianets, Ohtyrka and Sumy.

The van had broken down shortly after crossing the border into Ukraine, but they were able to get all of the aid into another vehicle and completed the trip.

Aivaras and Oleg returned to Crawley on Tuesday (April 12).

Vlad said: "The mission went as good as it could be and went 99% to plan. I am truly proud to have such amazing friends and father and thank you to everyone who supported and contributed to this mission."

The same group of Crawley residents is not planning to stop–those brave and relentless volunteers are planning to organise another trip to East of Ukraine at the start of June, thanks to our Queens Jubilee Weekend allowing and extra days off for the mission.

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Ukraine: Crawley residents travel 4,000 miles to deliver aid in Post Office van