Another van-load of aid supplies will be travelling from the Isle of Man to Ukraine, after an overwhelming response to a recent appeal for donations of clothes, medical supplies and toiletries.

Marcus Thornton, who last week returned from a 3,000 mile trip to the Poland-Ukrainian border with his own van, still had some supplies left over from his public appeal – and more had also been dropped off in the meantime while he was away.

His friend Brian Christian, a MER tram driver from Onchan, will today (Friday,) be driving the loaded van to Scotland to rendezvous with Mr Thornton’s friends.

It will then be taken to the distribution centre in Krakow in Poland.

Last week Mr Thornton, from Port St Mary, told The Courier how he had been struck by the sight of mile after mile of women and children refugees fleeing into Poland from Ukraine, on foot and via coach.

He had made it to the Polish border town of Medyka, but there was so much activity and aid headed towards the border he was turned back to drop off the supplies in a Tesco warehouse in the nearby city of Przemysl.

Mr Thornton said it was ‘an amazing response from the Isle of Man’ and said he would like to take another trip out to Poland if there’s demand for one, though sponsorship would be needed this time to cover costs.