A convoy of lorries has left a builders' merchants on a long journey to take vital aid to the people of Ukraine.   

The lorries which left Covers in Quarry Lane, Chichester, will donate their loads, including fridges, freezers, clothing and medicines.

All the supplies have either been donated or paid for by donations.

The company has already given three crane lorries to the Ukrainian humanitarian company Stay Safe UA (urgent appeal) and they are now on the way to help civilians near the front line in Ukraine.

The lorries, with volunteer drivers Chris Hurst, Malcolm Sargeant, Jamie Lewis and Lina Lazar from the Healing Hands Network charity at the wheel, are heading for the Poland-Ukraine border, where they will be handed over to Stay Safe UA.

Their eventual destinations are Bakhmut and Kherson which means a journey of about 1,800 miles. 

Stay Safe UA's brave volunteers will use the lorries and machinery to provide help to affected civilians near the frontlines. 

One lorry will carry a mobile shower unit, another one will become a mobile bakery and the third will be used for transportation tasks wherever the need is greatest.

There to wave off the convoy from Covers’ headquarters were Covers chairman Rupert Green, Pip Holmes and Henrietta Nettlefold from UK To Ukraine and Sue Stretton and Steve Grayson from the charity Healing Hands Network, which works with UK To Ukraine.

Covers chairman Rupert Green said: "UK To Ukraine, Healing Hands Network and Stay Safe UA do fantastic work getting aid to the Ukrainian people. We hoped our lorries and forklift might be of some use but didn’t imagine how many problems it would solve for Stay Safe UA.

"Then, of course, there was no point sending them empty - the joint fundraising generated a really generous response which was used to purchase the Bobcat, the container and lots of life-saving medical supplies.

"This was all put together in less than three months thanks to the amazing work from the Covers team, especially our transport manager Adam Conrad, and UK To Ukraine, Healing Hands Network and Stay Safe.

"We are delighted, as an engaged family business, to work with such dedicated people for the benefit of the brave people of the Ukraine."