Four representatives from Kirkby Rotary Club are travelling to India to support National Immunisation Day, helping the fight to immunise thousands of children against polio.

President Paul Riley; his wife, Carol; president-elect Philip Hurt; and his wife, Rotarian Kate Hurt; will join 106 Rotary volunteers from across Great Britain and Ireland, the largest to take part in the campaign. The Kirkby quartet will take donations from the club and individuals totalling £500.

International Rotarian volunteers will assist local Rotary members in Delhi, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Bhidawi and Karnal.

Mr Riley said: “This is an extremely encouraging response to keep India polio free, after the tremendous efforts to eradicate the disease from the area.

“Although the country was declared free from the disease in 2014, there is still the real risk of re-infection from the cases found in nearby Pakistan and therefore it is essential that high levels of immunisation are maintained.”