A Mansfield businessman is travelling to Hungary to offer support to Ukrainian refugees who have fled their homeland after the invasion by Russian forces.

Rob Cassidy, managing director of Mansfield-based New Century Windows, and Arran Bailey, managing director of ALB Group, are part of an 11-man team heading out to deliver 10 tonnes of aid to refugees.

The team are initially driving five vans full of supplies to Poland after being inundated with £25,000 in donations through a GoFundMe campaign set up by the two businessmen. They will then continue their 3,000-mile round trip through Slovakia to Hungary, distributing essential aid bought with the money in the UK before they left.

The pair have been appalled by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and were determined to help after seeing news footage of hundreds of thousands of people fleeing to neighbouring countries.

Rob and Arran launched their joint GoFundMe campaign with a target of reaching £5,000 in cash donations. But within just 24 hours the campaign had raised £15,000, topping almost £18,000 by Monday morning and now more than £26,000.

The team were also supported by two major donations – Stena Line donated a ferry crossing, and fashion brand Paul Smith donated around 3,000 items of clothing.

All of the money donated is being used to purchase essential items such as toiletries, blankets, clothing, baby milk, nappies, food and torches. ALB and New Century Windows will be funding all fuel, tolls, accommodation and other expenses incurred on the trip from their own pockets.

To help the appeal click here.