A COUPLE have just returned from a mercy mission to Romania to help street children -- but this time they have brought home a ray of hope.

Vic Brown, a lecturer in IT at Accrington and Rossendale College, and his wife Diana went to the former Communist country for nine days, spending four in Bucharest and the remaining time in Constanta.

Vic, 53, of Crawshaw Drive, Reedsholme, Rawtenstall, has been to the country four times and is making a film on how street children cope.

When he visited in April he brought back harrowing pictures and even more shocking stories of girls aged 14 offering themselves as prostitutes for less than £2.50, and children being arrested for being photographed and accepting food offered to them by Vic.

But this visit was different. In Bucharest he visited a Texan couple, Ron and Sue Bates, who run a care home for about 50 girls aged eight upwards, many of whom have young children from their days as prostitutes.

Vic said: "We took them some soaps and soft toys from Christ Church in Bacup and the toys caused a riot!

"The next day there was a very sweet smell after they had bathed with the soap.

"We visited Romi gipsy families. They are considered to have no status in the country and we gave them a 'love gift' of £560 from Sion Baptist Church in Cloughfold."

The money will be used for three projects, a mission outreach, to investigate structural problems in a building and to try to help a father repair his home so he can keep his children.

The couple missed a tornado by 10 minutes when passing through Fetesti. It devastated 200 homes and killed a dozen people. And in Constanta Vic revisited the hostel run by Methodist charity Steps. Last time he went there were blocked waste pipes and dark smelly toilets.

Now the home for about 50 boys and girls aged 11 to 16 has hot and cold running water and has progressed beyond recognition.

Vic said: "That project is really progressing well and I noticed a dramatic change."

He gave the youngsters £200, which was spent on food -- sausages, fresh fruit and vegetables from the market.

Vic will be returning at Easter when he will be taking an adult group to carry out activities with the children in the centre.

Meanwhile, the fund-raising continues and Vic is willing to give talks to any local organisation about his trips. He can be contacted on 01706 226533.