Shoe boxes filled with toys, food and household goods left Radlett this week on the first stage of their journey to Eastern Europe.

The gifts, which were donated by members of the Rotary Club of Radlett, are destined to wing their way across Europe to help give comfort to orphans and homeless children in Romania and Moldavia.

Club president, John Eames said: "Our contribution will eventually form part of a much larger load -- something in the region of 1,000 boxes from London and 14,000 boxes nationally -- that will be going by road to Eastern Europe."

Alan Horsford, international committee chairman, formally handed over the boxes to representative of the London Rotary District, Helen Antoniou, at the club's meeting last week. She said she was delighted to receive the goods which will help bring much-needed help to unfortunate children.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000.Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.