AN aid worker facing child smuggling allegations spoke today of his frustration that there is no end to his ordeal in Romania in sight.

Proceedings against former Great Harwood businessman John Boast were adjourned until April 26 after he pleaded not guilty to helping smuggle a child out of the country yesterday.

And Mr Boast, who could face five years imprisonment, says he is prevented from continuing his relief work in the backward country until legal action ends.

He said: "The longer this goes on, the more people will lose out. I desperately want to return to my work but cannot because I have no supplies. "That will be the case until I am allowed to return to the UK to collect some."

The 46-year-old was prevented from leaving Romania after a 15-month-old girl was taken from the country and handed to a Yorkshire couple.

Mr Boast told a court in the North West town of Oradea that he had taken a baby from a children's hospital in the town last July but had taken her back to the hospital after giving her a day out.

The baby was found later last summer by British social workers

The Romanians have accused Boast of smuggling it across the border.

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