A CHRISTIAN charity has vowed not to make any more aid trips to Albania after a unit full of donated goods for dying babies was raided three times in a week.

The Heart and Hands Charity in Burnley was delighted when it was offered use of an industrial unit because people had generously donated items to be sent to Albania.

But although they kept its location secret, thieves struck.

The charity's founder Roy Ewart, a born-again Christian, said: "If I came across the thieves who stole the detergent, baby milk, bottles and children's vitamins and smashed up the hospital equipment I would like to show them the pictures of the starving and dying babies the goods were meant for.

"People have been so generous in giving us items to take and I am very grateful for their help. It is disgusting that people can do something like this. "We telephoned different charities to find one which was going over and paid £200 to get the a lorry to collect the goods and take them to Sussex because we just wanted them out of here as soon as possible."

Roy and friend Steve Smith, who runs the Heritage Centre on St James Street, will leave Burnley on Monday to fly to Corfu and then get a ferry to Albania where they will meet a group from the University of Wales and a convoy of aid wagons.

It will be Roy's fifth trip to the country which has little or no sanitation, high unemployment and hundreds of unwanted children.

In addition there has also been rioting following the elections last Sunday.

Roy said: "I am asking people to pray for us while we are over there because it is a very difficult time.

"All of these things have led us to decide not to collect and send aid over although we will still be raising money for the children and still showing slide shows to local organisations."

Anyone who wants a presentation can contact Roy on 01282 703809.

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