A Hutton scout leader is heading for the former Yugoslavia this week with two lorryloads of refugee aid donated by local schools, churches and shoppers.

Charles Storer left his Billericay home yesterday morning, in constant touch with United Nations aid workers for any change in conditions in the region, racked by bombs and tales of ethnic cleansing.

Already the City bank manager has had to change his destination after the mainly Serb population in Northern Bosnia reacted with fury to the Nato bombardment by driving foreign aid workers from the town when a demonstration turned into a riot.

Instead he will head for Eastern Croatia, close to Osijek, a border town dubbed the "most shelled city in the world.''

Part of the Convoy of Hope charity missions, Mr Storer, who lives in Wellington Mews, is clear that all the refugees need help.

He said: "One of the strap lines on our lorry says: 'We take aid, not sides.' In Northern Bosnia which is mainly Serbian they do not like us at the moment, but there are as many Serb refugees as others.

"There are 1.5 million refugees in the area and some Albanians are also making it into Bosnia.

The current trip will be Mr Storer's sixth to the region, but he recognises that he, and his three companions, must be even more aware of the dangers.

He said: "I have learnt the golden rule - never step on grass, stay on concrete and it won't be mined.

"It will be difficult with what is happening in Kosovo and Serbia and yes the trouble is spilling over but as long as I am in constant daily touch with the UN I hope to minimise any risks."

Mr Storer is chairman of the Hutton All Saints Scout Group who have supported the Convoy of Hope since the mid 1990s.

Another Hutton scout leader, Roger Allen, of Rayleigh Road, who chairs the St Joseph the Worker group, left Brentwood on Monday with aid for refugees in Croatia.

Both men thanked Brentwood's Sainsbury's store which let them collect food donated by shoppers.

Mercy mission: Charles Storer prepares to leave his Billericay home with aid for refugees in war-torn former Yugoslavia.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.