A FATHER-of-four jumped at the chance to save a grandmother and young girl from war-torn Ukraine, driving them to safety after dropping off a huge pile of donations.

Southend resident Martin Crisp, 47, and four others travelled 18 hours a day for almost a week to Ukraine.

After dropping donations, including toiletries and food, they drove the grandmother and child to safety in Austria.

Other south Essex residents have also made the journey, including Stu Whiffen, promoter of Rayleigh’s Pink Toothbrush club, who drove more than 1,000 miles to Poland to handover donations.

Mr Crisp was contacted by two men from Suffolk who were trying to arrange travel for the grandmother and child.

Echo: Rescuers - Mr Crisp and the team Rescuers - Mr Crisp and the team

He said: “It was sad and upsetting, you want to help more but you can’t.

They had nothing but the clothes they were standing in.

“They didn’t speak much English but seemed happy and relieved to be getting out of there. We saw so many people queuing to get out of Ukraine.

“We had a contact out there and it was arranged we would take two out of the country. The girl was the same age as my son, so it really brought it home to me what was happening.”

Mr Crisp started his journey March 4 and came back on Wednesday.

Nightclub promoter Mr Whiffen had arranged with former school mates to deliver a van of donations last weekend.

He said: “What was so moving was all the support and kindness of people.

I have been blown away by the kindness and we had a half a van full of donations at the club in just minutes.

“The whole situation is really harrowing but the generosity is just so amazing and what needs to be highlighted. We felt we couldn’t just sit home and watch this going on.

“We’ve had lots and lots of support from stars of film and TV including John Bradley West from Game of Thrones, Inbetweeners actors Blake Harrison and James Buckley and Emmy winner and star of Ted Lasso, Brett Goldstein.”

Mr Whiffen and his friends have collected about £18,000. To donate see www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ stu-whiffen