The latest Swindon mercy trip to the Balkans will be setting off as planned on Monday.

At the wheel of the truck loaded with aid will be landlord Andy Marcer from the Beehive pub in Old Town.

It will be Andy's ninth trip to that troubled part of Europe and this time he will be delivering supplies to people living in Croatia and Bosnia.

He will be making the 4,000 mile round trek with co-driver Paul Clifford, one of his regular customers.

Andy said: "We will be taking over a mixture of food, blankets, children's toys, medical supplies and even some crockery.

"The only thing we could now really do with is more money to help pay for the fuel to get there and to spend on essential goods that can be bought when we arrive.''

The seven-and-a-half ton truck Andy is driving will form part of a nine vehicle convoy across Europe organised by the Hope and Aid Direct charity.

Andy knows that when they arrive at their destination they will receive a warm welcome from people who have been starved for years of the necessities of life that we take for granted in this country.

"Wherever we go we are really well received," said Andy.

"And apart from the things we deliver our missions let the people know that they have not been forgotten by the outside world.''

After crossing to Calais from Dover the mercy convoy will travel on to Croatia through France, Belgium, Germany, Austria and Slovenia.

There they will hand out supplies throughout the Vukovar region, after liaising with locally based international charities.

Afterwards the convoy will drive on through Bosnia to the capital, Sarajevo, where they will re-load from a 38-ton lorry driven over there by former Swindon soldier Nick Cooper and a co-driver.

Any last minute offers of cash or supplies can be made to Andy by ringing Swindon 523187.