THE Iranian embassy has organised free air transport for donated toys from East Lancashire to be flown to the earthquake-hit city of Bam.

The move comes after Blackburn campaigner Steve Capriati launched a successful appeal and contacted the embassy.

Toys will go to troubled children in the stricken city- many of them orphans.

Mr Capriati today thanked generous East Lancashire people for their support and making the gift possible.

Donations of new toys, colouring books and crayons have been flooding in to the Blind Society at Thwaites House, Railway Road, Blackburn and JobCentre Plus in Penny Street.

Steve, 50, a father-of-two, was shocked into action after seeing the devastation of Bam on television.

He said: "I'm absolutely delighted by the response and send a big thank you to everyone who has helped not just in terms of donations but their support and well wishes. I really wanted to do something for the children. Adults get so caught up in adult affairs they forget about the youngsters. While millions of pounds will go on the relief effort, there is not always a lot for the children.

"I was devastated and shocked to hear about the suffering in Bam.

"And to allow children to just be children and play for a while is so worthwhile."

Steve, who lives in Livesey Branch Road, Blackburn, is planning to box up the toys in the next few days then he will contact the embassy to organise transport details.

The embassy in London is co-ordinating the relief effort from within the UK, and has agreed to provide free air transport and redistribution of toys to children in the area of Bam.

"It will be wonderful to know we have all helped but London is as far as I get to go," added. Steve.

The earthquake struck on Boxing Day, killing 30,000 people and destroying the city. It is estimated the earthquake destroyed 90 per cent of the city's buildings, and survivors have been sleeping in tents.