BUSINESSES are doing what they can to help those affected by the conflict in Ukraine, with three trucks and vans full of aid setting off this past weekend.

A lorry from Bride Valley and Ashley Wood Recovery, of Piddlehinton, set off on the 1,300-mile trip on Sunday, March 20, to the Ukraine-Poland border full of aid donations driven by Chris Lee alongside his colleague Matt Shepard.

Meanwhile, a van from Cavo Build in Weymouth and a tipper truck from TR Recycling in Chickerell, also set off for eastern Europe full of aid including food, toiletries and clothes.

Chris Lee said he felt compelled to act after hearing of tragic stories in the news and noticing places in Dorset collecting items but struggling to find transport to take it to the refugees.

Dorset Echo: Ashley Wood Recovery team who are sending out a lorry full of supplies driven by Chris lee and Matt Shepard (centre left and right in pink high vis), picture: Chris Lee

“After talking with some colleagues about an article on an 11-year-old who had walked on his own for hundreds of miles, we decided we had to do something,” said Mr Lee.

“We first thought about going two weeks ago and have been making all the preparations since.

“We loaded up Sunday, leaving in the evening full of donations from the Dorset and Bournemouth for Ukraine Facebook pages.

“We are still collecting and have set up a Just Giving Page to help.”

People can make donate money via www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/christopher-lee

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Elsewhere, Mitch Castle of Cavo Build in Weymouth said: “It's a cause really close to our hearts because we all have kids and the children over there do not deserve that, no one does, so we are doing it for them and making sure the UK is giving back.

Dorset Echo: Andy Reynolds and Lee Thomas from TR (left) and Chris Cheshire and Mitch Castle from Cavo (right) before heading to Ukraine, picture: Mitch Castle

“We have had so many donations from local businesses, Aldi, the Co-op and individual donations - but we are still looking for medicine and we are taking cash donations.

"We're taking baby clothes, food, tents and toiletries - all the necessities.

“We’re aiming to do it in one go, taking it turns driving the 1,300-mile distance between myself and Chris Cheshire from Cavo, alongside Andy Reynolds and Lee Thomas from TR.”

Both estimate using around £3,000 in fuel per vehicle for the trip and were still taking donations over the weekend to ensure they made the most of their space.

Dorset Echo: The lorry Chris Lee will be driving out to Ukraine, picture: Chris Lee