Couple to deliver evacuation vehicle to Ukraine

Ed Chalmers and Katie Hines will take a similar vehicle to Ukraine in April

A couple are preparing to travel to Ukraine to deliver a vehicle that will be used to evacuate injured soldiers from the frontline in the war with Russia.

Ed Chalmers and Katie Hines, from Glastonbury, in Somerset, will travel 1,318 miles (2,121km) over three days.

Mr Chalmers said: "I wanted to do something significant for my birthday and Katie's brother told us about Driving Ukraine, so we put our names forward".

Driving Ukraine, a group set up at the start of the war, has delivered more than 70 vehicles to the country.

A fundraising appeal has been set up to pay for the trip and vehicle modifications

Mr Chalmers, 36, and Ms Hines, 35, have set up a fundraising appeal on Go Get Funding to pay for the trip and aim to raise £2,000.

Mr Chalmers said: "The money will pay for the petrol, the paperwork to get to Ukraine and modifications to the vehicle, such as new tyres and paint."

The couple will collect a vehicle from Oxford and deliver it to Lviv, in western Ukraine by 29 April.

The car will then be handed over to a specialist who will convert it into a vehicle ready for the frontline.

The couple will travel in a convoy of up to five or six vehicles.

Mr Chalmers said: "This is more than a road trip.

"I am more worried than I was at the beginning, but I think it is something I am looking forward to doing".