Herefordshire firefighter says taking equipment to Ukraine was an 'emotional journey'
Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue service delivered supplies in April
A Herefordshire firefighter who was part of the team who delivered equipment to Ukraine says it was an emotional journey.
Watch commander Dave Vickress from Hereford and Worcester Fire and Rescue Service headed out to the country for the second time last month to drop off supplies.
The service was part of 15 across England and Wales who donated 20 fire engines along with other pieces of equipment.
Dave says the full experience created memories he would never forget, and it was important they managed to drop off as much help as possible.
He said: "It's very hard going, it's very tiring and emotional at times, but it's also rewarding, and something that you remember and talk about for the rest of your life.
"There was over 100 people on that last convoy who all worked together, keeping everybody going and happy, but also encouraging people, and you meet people who you've never met before, and they then become your friends through just being with them in these moments.
"Us taking our vehicles that are no longer in service and giving them to the Ukrainians to use is really vital, because it's not only the appliances, it's the equipment we give them as well, as the amount of stuff they're losing out there is massive."
Figures at the time the convoy was over in Ukraine showed nearly 400 fire stations had been destroyed in the country since the conflict began.